ho...hum...

well, i don' t have any pictures to post this time...again. i really need to get better at that. i think i also need to get my blog out there as far as viewed. it would be nice to have more people that pay attention i guess. i don't know. its all good.

today was the first full work day for me in about three months. it was crazy today. it was "bring your kid to work day" today. we do things a bit differently at DirectPointe though. rather than let the kids hang with their parents, we give them things to do. i was asked to be a supervisor i guess. it took a lot out of me. right around noon is when we got done with all of the activities and the kids went home. i sat at my desk and started to work and then, all of a sudden, my energy left me. i was drained. props to parents. kids are a handful.

i am still going to school. i have a cebuano class and the first half of new testament. i love school. i never thought that i would ever say that but i do. school is the best thing. i love learning, even though i don't learn like i used to. i am not a sponge like i used to be. thus it takes a lot more out of me to remember stuff and to actually learn. i used to be a master at test taking. now i am way better at homework than tests. it has been way too long since i have been in school. five years. way too long.

recently, i have had a lot on my mind. my life is going in the right direction and i feel like i am doing what i am supposed to, it is just that there seem to be a few things missing. almost like a hole in my life. i am probably the most fickle guy in the world. it sucks. i have hurt some one very special to me because of it. and it wasn't intentional. and i still care a lot about this person, but i have blown it. and hence the hole. she is moving on, which is the right thing, but i am dying. and it has nothing to do with her. i am just a moron. i don't want to put her on another emotional roller coaster, but it is so hard to be without her. i am happy for her that she isn't letting me hold her back, but i am having the hardest time. emotions suck sometimes. but then other times, they are so beautiful. so life is life. maybe next time i will have pictures.

Happy Birthday to Me...

well, today is the day. i was born 23 years ago this day. can i say that i don't feel 23? i don't feel a day older. i feel more tired than usual though. but that is because of finals i think. i have three finals to take in two days. i have one at 7 tomorrow morning which is going to be killer because it is my chem final and i am not doing so hot in chem. i am going to try and study my brains out so that i can get a decent grade on the final to hopefully bump up my grade. anyway, my birthday.

not much of a day, as i wanted it to be. i would much rather not draw attention to it. i have put too much expectation on my birthday when i was younger and was disappointed every time. i can't tell you how many times that i tried to have a birthday party or something when i invited a lot of people who i thought were friends only to have three or four people show up. not a huge self-esteem builder. that is why i don't like birthday parties and especially surprise parties. can't stand 'em.

i spent most of the day working. i got a call from dad first. we talked for a bit but he had to get to work and so did i. then mom called and i got to talk to her for a bit. then i got a few texts here and there from friends. i am surprised at how many people actually remembered though. i tried to keep it hush. i really didn't want to make a big deal out of it. as negative as i am about my birthday, i am very thankful for the friends that i have and their support for me.

mom sent me a box that got to me today. i don't think that she was intending it for my birthday, but it got here today so it made it that much better. and she is bringing some good stuff when they come up and bring Kati's stuff in a week. i haven't seen the fam since Christmas. I wish we could be closer. it isn't until you are far away that you realize how much you love them.

so, happy day. :D

Father's Day

Well, it has been a whole month. Today is Father's day. I already talked with my Dad today and wished him a happy Father's Day. I kinda wanted to do the same thing for Father's Day that I did for Mother's Day, but just say the things I like most about my Dad. And I am sure that some of these will be the same as for Mother's Day.

My Dad works so hard to make sure that his family is comfortable, but is there for us all at the same time. Not too many Dad's can say that they make enough money to comfortably support their family and still be there for them. My Dad can.

My Dad loves my Mom and we know it. I cannot tell you how many times that he has told us this in family councils and stuff. Aside from that, he has told us and proved to us over and over again that he would much rather be out shopping with Mom than doing anything else.

My Dad loves the Church. I have never known a man so devoted and so willing to sacrifice for what he believes. I know that many of the early members of the church had to sacrifice a great deal, but I never knew them. My Dad is a living example of having an eye single to the glory of God.

My Dad loves his kids. Everything he does, he does first for the betterment of his family. That entails moving a lot, and every time that we moved, it was always to a better standard of living. He is also my mentor and greatest teacher.

I love my Dad. Happy Father's Day.

Mother's Day

Well, today is that blessed day called Mother's Day. I just want to say a few things about my Mother. More like the ten things I like most about my Mom. I could say a lot more than ten, but it would take a really long time.

10. My Mom makes the best meals. It never fails, Mom's homecookin' beats all. There is nothing better than comin' home after a long day...or several months away from home...and tasting of the goodness that Mom so lovingly prepares and slaves over just so that it feeds us and tastes good.

9. My Mom is so practical and frugal. For most people, that is one of those kinds of things that you don't necessarily want to be complimented on. Most people prefer compliments about their hair, or jewelery(if your a girl), or clothes. But because my Mom is this way, she helped our family through some really tough times.

8. My Mom is sooo patient. I have never met a more patient person...towards her kids at least. I am ashamed to say that we put her through the ringer sometimes....more than we should have....and she was still so loving and willing to teach us and help us learn, even though she claims we gave her her one gray hair.

7. My Mom is so loving and giving. She will sacrifice more of her own wants and desires to make sure that everyone is ok and comfortable, especially her kids. I learned just recently that when I was a much younger lad, when our family was going through a particularly difficult time, that she sacrificed getting some necessities for herself and her health so that her kids would be warm and full.

6. My Mom is not one to question....in most cases. When something comes a long or happens that might be a trial or a tribulation, and almost be unbearable to some, she takes these things in stride and rolls with the punches, always keeping a very positive attitude. She won't question or ask why things happen the way they do or why things happen to her, she just accepts them and moves on.

5. My Mom is extremely caring. She is currently serving as the Stake Relief Society President and has told me personally on numerous occasions about what is happen with her sisters as a whole. She is smart enough not to get into specifics, but as a whole, lets me know how much she loves her calling and those she serves and how she wants the best for each of them in their different situations.

4. My Mom loves the Lord. Through her example, she has shown me(though it has taken me an unfortunately long time to learn this) that she loves the Lord. It is through her example, as well as my Dad's, that I learned how gain my own personal relationship with the Lord.

3. My Mom shows her love for her kids. She is never afraid to tell us that she loves us and show it to us through hugs and kisses and all of those other "gross" things that kids get embarrassed about. And as afor mentioned, she will sacrifice a ton so that her kids are ok. She loves us enough to make us work, and not buy us the most fancy things.

2. My Mom loves my dad, and she is not afraid to show it. I never have to worry about my parents separating or divorce. I know that even though they may disagree sometimes, they love each other enough to recognize and comprimize. That, the fact that they tell us all the time that they love the other, and their interesting and sometimes "gross" PDA's tell all.

1. The greatest thing I love about my Mom is that she is just the best mom their ever was. I would never trade my mom for anything there ever was or ever could be. I love you Mom.

On my Mind

Well, I have a lot on my mind lately. At least today, I have been thinking a lot about what Al Sharpton said about the Mormons and how we aren't Christians. That thought process segwayed into thoughts about our Government and how they are leading us. I wish sometimes...a lot actually, that people would just be honest. I don't really understand why that is so hard. I guess people aren't honest because they have something to hide. So, my thinking is, don't do anything that you have to hide. As I was thinking about our Government officials, the thought came to mind also of Captain Moroni. The Nephites back then had very corrupt officials. Moroni saw the impending danger of corrupt leaders and the approaching threat of the Lamanite "terrorists." I wish sometimes that that scenario were possible in our day.

I don't mean to be preachy or talk about politics. It is just what is on my mind. I have had a lot of fun these last few weeks. I am finally in school...and what a struggle it is to stay in. Financially, for a student who isn't enrolled, it is very expensive. I love it though. Being in school and learning is an amazing thing. I have been struggling to get into school since I got home from the mission, and I am kinda glad that it has taken me this long. I love having homework and quizzes and being busy with school. I think that if I would have enrolled in school sooner, I wouldn't be this happy about it. There are a lot of good things happening in my life right now too. Things aren't going smoothly, and I kinda like it. Sure it is hard to get through and sometimes very draining, but I am trying to take a more positive attitude towards life and trials. I love that I am learning through experience.

the funnerest....

So we had the funnest ward activity on Monday. We went to Seven Peaks Ice Arena and played broom hockey. It was awesome!! We didn't get too many pics, but the ones we did were good. I loved it. It was so fun!! Here are some of the pics.

She really didn't do much but stand there. She and the rest of her team would crowd the goal so that we couldn't score.

This kid almost got it in the face. Those ends are not soft.

Go Team!!

Mike Herring is my nomination for Defenseman of the Year!!

Brittney Quinn was amazing as well....she is Female Player of the Year!!

ah...growing up...

it is nearly a month since i wrote in here last. i haven't forgot about this. i have been meaning to add something, i just didn't know what and priorities get confused sometimes. anyway, yeah. lots of good things are happening. it is the end of the winter semester here at byu which means that i get to start school soon!! i am so stoaked for that. and because it is spring everything is warming up, the world is turning green, many of the couples that have been dating through the winter will be getting married(and when i say many, i mean tons). its all good. i don't have too many pictures to add because my camera broke and it is getting fixed right now, so i haven't taken too many pictures lately. the most recent ones that i have are from goblin valley. if you check out lindsey's blog, there should be pictures there, too. so yeah. i hope ya'll are havin' an awesome month.