Sunday, December 21, 2008

Faith, Hope, And Love

In church today the sunday school lesson was on faith, for some reason the song by Alan Jackson popped in my head. Hence the reason for the name of this blog. Faith, Hope, and love are some good things He gave us, but the greatest is love. I really think all three of them go hand in hand. Faith is believing without seeing, which in turn gives us hope. Love is just a generally great thing and awesome tool. I mean how crappy would life be if we didn't have any of the three of them? I have found that my life goes so much smoother when I have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, which in turn helps me to continue to hope for better things. All the love that is around me is awesome, I have some of the coolest friends a guy could ask for and I can feel the love that is there, I have a very loving family, and on top of all of that I have a Heavenly father and His Son that I know both love me very much. I couldn't ask for a better branch presidency all three of them love each and everyone of us in the branch like we were their kids. This time of year is great cause everyone seems to have more faith, hope, and love for those around us. Hopefully more people can take and live the entire year like they do Christmas time. I hope all of my friends and family know that I love them and they mean a ton to me. Merry Christmas Ya'll

Monday, December 15, 2008

Snowboard season

So it finally snowed which makes me very happy. I have been waiting for snowboard season since somewhere in the neighborhood of July. I love snowboarding it gets me out and bein physical along with bein in nature. Which makes me feel closer to God. I may seem a bit selfish when I pray for snow, but it serves a dual purpose, we get lots of it to fill the reservoirs and water crops and on top of that I get to play in it. Besides snowboardin is my one true love, when girls don't seem interested or I am lookin in the wrong places it never fails me, a good day of snowboardin will make me feel all better. I get the luxoury of havin the last two weeks of the year off and I will more than likely be spendin lots of time up on the hill at Kelly Canyon playin on my days off and learnin more for the ski patrol stuff. I get out in the mountains and I just clear my head and really don't think about anythin else, it is such a stress reliever I love it. More or less when it comes to women I am a chicken, especially if I like em. The problem is the ones I get interested in always tend to disappear before I even figure out what the heck I am doin. But whatever, back to snowboardin. I have been boardin for about 8 to 10 years now and only the last few have I really gotten good. I now can carve, I enjoy jumps, ridin through trees, gettin into semi sketchy stuff, still don't care much for the park. I love a good fresh powder day, it feels like your floatin through the clouds when you are glidin through it. I am stoked for this season, I get to ride with a bunch of guys from the patrol that I have never ridden with before, which is cool cause it is fun to ride with new people cause they can push ya to learn and become better each time you ride and push your limits. Basically this winter if you wanna find me I will probably be on the mountain playin in the snow. Talk to ya all later.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Testimony

Today was fast and testimony meeting in church and I argued with myself as a I always do when there are blank spaces of time. I do this because I really don't like speakin in front of people. So I figured I would post my testimony on my blog. I know without a doubt that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church, I also know that the Book of Mormon is true and that there is a Prophet of God on the earth today and he is President Thomas S Monson. I know that God and Jesus Christ love each and everyone of us, I also know that the greatest gift/tool/weapon whatever you want to call it that each and everyone of us possess is Love. I have seen many great changes happen to people, includin me cause someone has taken the time to show some kind of love for another. I love each and every person in my life, all different kinds wether it be the love of a good friend, of a son, of a brother or different ways. I know that God sends us angels and miracles all the time, some of the angels we can't see others are friends or family members or just some random person you met, the miracles he sends vary from great to small but they are all there. I know this is the true gospel of Christ and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Turkey Day

My favorite part about turkey day is bein with family. But the last two years since my Aunt married her new husband it has gotten weirder and weirder. I love her dearly but she drives me bonkers. This year we went down to my Grandpa's which was fun, it's always good to see him. I did a whole lot of nothin this weekend, but I believe my body was in need of the rest it got. I got to walk around Temple square with my parents and some other relatives, which was awesome cause my mom hadn't been there for twenty years and the lights were gorgeous and the spirit was awesome. I love bein around family on Holy ground and the spirit that is there. The best part is that my family seems to be gettin closer and closer to spirit, which means they are closer and closer to becomin active again. I am very thankful for the gospel and all it has done for me in my life, also for all my family, both blood and branch family, all my great friends that help me and the spirit that each one of you brings into my life. Thanks again

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Positive Spin

When life throws trials, difficulties and whatever else it wants to throw at ya the best way to handle these things is to put a positive spin on it. Like when my truck's turbo came apart and went through the engine, it may of cost me 11 grand by the time I replaced the turbo, injectors, engine and upgraded the tranny, but this way I have practically a new truck with a whole bunch more power than a new one and I still owe less than it would cost me to buy a new truck, so I figure I am ahead of the game. Usually if somethin breaks I look at it as an excuse to upgrade. Or if something don't quite work the way I want it to, that is the way it was meant to happen and eventually somethin better will come along. That or when datin and it turns out that one or the other of the two of ya don't feel right about it, it was fun while it lasted and at least I got a good friend out of the deal. Like the old sayin "When life gives ya lemons, make lemonade," I plan on doin my best to make the best of the things I got, and to always look at things with a positive spin. It is by far better to be an optimist instead of a pessimist. Enjoy and do the best ya got

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Little Things

I was thinkin today as I was workin ( I know big shocker, plus a dangerous thing for me). I realized little things add up. A couple of months ago I let all the little things that were botherin me get to me, and when they all build together they add up and the frustration level gets even higher. The thing that got me laughin today is why did I let the fact that someone changed the password on a program we use regularly at work so all ya had to do was hit enter irritate me. Probably had a bit to do with the fact that at the time I was slackin in my daily prayers and scripture study therefor I wasn't as close as I should of been to Heavenly Father. All through that time I was gettin frustrated over things that rarely if ever bother me usually, so I came to the conclusion "vent and get rid of the little things that bother you as often as possible so they don't build up and cause you to explode."
This also got me thinkin of how ya shouldn't forget to do the little things in life that are good. Like scriptures, prayer( speakin of prayer, the other night at dinner my mom suggested we pray without me even sayin anythin, which shows good examples can pay off), a kind word here and there, compliments, Hugs( I think these are very important, they can brighten a day), smiles(also very important), honesty, hardwork, takin the time to do things right. I could probably go on forever about all the little things that we can and should do, but I will not bore ya'll. A bunch of these things we all take for granted, so like the saying of "Stop and Smell the roses" we should all take the time to look at all the great things that are in our lives even if they are just simple little things.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Pumpkins

Saturday a group of us rounded up pumpkins and put them to their demise by shooting them. It was quite the fun activity, the crazy thing is between 9 people we went through a hundred dollars in ammo!!!! But the pumpkins didn't survive. I have also decided that whenever I take a date with me shootin for some reason I do poorer than normal, maybe that is because I am distracted or something. All though this time I didn't feel so bad, cause she out shot everyone not just me. The only thing I should of done different on this whole adventure is make sure I had enough rounds left for my 45 to have a full clip, it is really kinda pointless to pack a pistol when it is empty. I got a minor lecture from a cop on Monday about that when I struck up a conversation with him about guns while I performed a quick fix on an instrument he brought in to work for me to check out. Well that be all I have to say about pumpkin shootin.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Halloween Fun

One of the great things about Halloween is you get to dress up like somethin that you normally don't do. Last night I was a mad scientist, thanks to my friends Ellisa and Rachel my hair stood up in crazy directions, I borrowed a lab coat from work and a set of Rad gloves and a pair of goggles. My friends had many different costumes as well, Matt was a 70's basketball player, Katy was a Highway, Rachel was a 80's rocker woman, Ellisa was a cowgirl, Trevor was superman, and there were many more. We had a fun evening at our Institute Halloween Bash

Friday, October 24, 2008

Temples

Temples are amazing buildings, tomorrow morning I am goin to the 9th temple that I have been in. I am goin through the St Louis temple, I have been takin for granted the fact that I have a temple in my own backyard. I always feel better when I go through a session or baptisms or any of the options I have to do when i am there, so why do I rarely go. Maybe it is me doin terrible at keepin my life fully inline, but whatever it is I am gonna try to be better. After i first got my reccomend back two years ago, I finally went through a session in the last week of december and then i went to the temple every week up until summer hit and then i slacked off cause of the summer activities. But I noticed that lifes challenges were much easier to face the more I made it to the temple. I've had a chance to do a session in the IF Temple, Billings, San Diego, Sacramento, Salt Lake, Mesa, Jordan River, and Rexburg Temple. Now thanks to my branch havin a monthly temple night I make it to the temple at least once a month but I wouldn't mind gettin back to the weekly temple visits. Like my earlier blog about mountains the temple is one of my favorite places on this earth and maybe somethin to do with the fact that the mountains are referred to in the scriptures as Temples, maybe that is why they are both favorite places, cause they are both places where I can get closer to my Father in Heaven and Christ. I try to visit the different temples that I happen to be in the area for work, hence the opportunity and reason I am goin to the St Louis Temple tomorrow. Ok so my train of thought has been derailed so I am gonna end this blog now

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Toto, We're not in Kansas anymore!

Apparently Kansas is flat and ya can pretty much see from one end to the other. I have spent the last two days drivin through different states. I have been to every state west of the Mississippi and then some, but I still like it home best. Alot of the midwest states, also know as plains states don't have much for scenery while you drive through them they are flat and continuous and i really don't like toll roads they are a pain in the butt!!!! Oh well, I am now all but through Kansas and I really never did find Toto or Dorothy, but wait that's right they aren't in Kansas anymore. But there are Wizard of Oz museums and lots of other strange things like a five legged steer and the worlds largest prairie dog. Ok so that was just a random bit from this random mind of mine.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Randomness

Those of you who know me, know I tend to be very random. For me randomness is normal, my brain works in random ways sometimes it confuses the crap out of me. But most times it all makes sense to me. It really doesn't make sense if you look at where a conversation started and where it ends up in a few minutes, cause random things cue different thoughts in my head. One minute I am thinkin bout work the next I am 50 miles a different direction. I enjoy random things, which would probably explain why my style of dress is a mix of a country boy and a snowboard punk, also called by some Redneck Gangsta, it all works for me. I enjoy things from country dancin to snowboardin to wakeboardin to movies to horses to just about anything. As in an earlier blog I stated that I prefer to be outside, yet cuddlin up and watchin a good movie is always a plus as well. I love old cars, big powerful trucks(yet I see a lifted truck as pointless), I am a people person(love bein around em), yet girls scare me. Life in general is good, if you enjoy random activities and random acts of kindness hang out with me cause both are very common comin from me.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Mountains

The mountains are one of my favorite place to be, I love being in nature and away from all the city mumbo jumbo that goes on. I love nature, and I take advantage of the beauty that God surrounds me with. I never cease to be amazed by the colors and combinations that I can find when I am out there in nature. My favorite smell in the whole world is Fresh Pine and sage just after it rains.
Then there is the feelin of carvin up fresh powder on a beautiful hillside covered in snow through out the winter. It feels like you are floatin on a cloud when you are glidin over a couple inches of fresh snow. I am amazed at all the beautiful combinations of God's creations out there in the mountains, a beautiful clear starry night that surrounds a mountain silhouette or the sun goin down with clouds that light up in different colors. Rainbows, wildlife, lakes, flowers, you name it in nature and I probably love it. No I am not a tree hugger, and yes I like to hunt and fish, but I can still appreciate all the things in nature.

Mistakes

Mistakes are interesting things, sometimes they work out for your benifit and others they aren't any good at all. I have made my fair share of mistakes in my life, but the thing is each and every little mistake I make I learn from it. I grow and become a better person cause I have made the mistakes that I have. I can use the lessons I've learned to help out those around me that I know and love.
The thing that comforts me most is knowing that the Atonement is there to make it possible for me to recover from my mistakes. I know that just because I haven't always made the right choices I am not a lost cause as long as I turn to Christ and keep him as the center of my life. I try my hardest to do this, but sometimes I slip and fall. I know that my mission in life is to help my family realize that Christ is the center of everything and that we need to turn to him to find ourselves.
I also know that I have came a long ways in my life, I learned the hard way that it takes three to make a relationship work, and those three are God, me and the other person. I gave it my all and it wasn't enough, I needed to turn to God for the rest. And the other person wasn't willing to compromise. The biggest factor in why that relationship failed was because I didn't put God first in my life at that time, I now know that in order for things to work correctly that is what must happen.
But never the less I am bound to continue and make mistakes. All I can do is take those mistakes and turn them into lessons and learn from them. Then use them to make my life better and to help those around me if needs be.