Cancer

In a way, I feel like a man with terminal cancer. I only have three weeks until I leave on my mission. When I come back, it's very possible that most of you won't really remember be. It's very possible that most of you will be married or gone. It's kinda crazy. However, I'm super excited. I hope with all my heart that most of you will still be around when i get back. Maybe these two years will go by fast. 

One of the hardest things for me is that I met a bunch of new people just barely....and now I'm leaving them. So, if I met you in the last six months, this blogpost is about you. I'm so so grateful for all the people in my life. I'm amazed at how quickly I made new friends at college. My roommates were all awesome. My ward was super welcoming and I met a bunch of people that I feel like I have known for years. I'm really going to miss everyone but I hope when I come back, you will all be as welcoming as you were when I was a stranger....but i'm sure you all will be. And that is why I love all my friends.

Testimony at 18

Well, the call came. On Wednesday, I sat in my living room.....watching the mailbox. waiting for the mail truck to show up. It felt like I sat there for days. finally it came. I ran out to the mailbox, opened it up, and then laughed with excitement. At 7, I opened up my mission call with some of my best friends. I am called to the Japan, Fukuoka mission. I'm leaving on January 9th......Haha, really soon.

Sooooo, I've decided to make a post of my testimony before my mission. So here we go....

I chose to be a missionary. My parents didn't push me to turn in my papers. My friends didn't make me. My leaders didn't tell me to. I made the choice. My friends, family, and leaders definitely helped me make the choice and supported me, but this is something I wanted to do. 

Why is that? Two years is a very long time. I have to leave the people I love the most. Going is not easy. I'm not going to pretend like going on a mission was something that I decided to do over night, and it is certainly not something that I could do if I didn't know the things i know. I could not leave my family, my friends, my school, my guitar, and my home if I didn't not know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was The Church of God. There a so many things about this Church that I don't understand. There are so many things I am still learning. However, there is a few things that I do know.......

1. I know that the Book of Mormon is Scripture. I know that it is the word of god and that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know that by saying my prayers and reading my scriptures I have been kept safe from bad thoughts and actions

2. I love the Temple and feel peace and the spirit when I go there. I know that it is sacred and the house of the lord.

3. I know that Jesus Christ is my savior and redeemer. 

4. I know that the Priesthood is real. 

And above all else...

5. I know that this church makes me happy. I know that right now, I am happy. This church makes me want to do things for others. This Church brings joy.

I know this church is true. I would not leave my education to serve a mission if it was not true. I would not leave my family and live on my own for two years if it wasn't true. I wouldn't leave my best friend, Maddy, if it wasn't true. I wouldn't leave all my amazing friends if it was not true. 

I'm so excited to serve my mission. 

Anyway, my life is going really well right now. I'm having a blast. 

This won't be my last post before my mission.  Don't worry.

Been a while

Sorry. So here is what's been going on....

For a while, my computer was having a problem. I haven't been able to use it for quite some time. That's why my blogging has slowed down so much. I didn't die. I've also been super busy with school and work.

Tomorrow, i'm supposed to get my mission call. I'm super excited. I can't wait to find out where i'm going to be serving the lord for the next two years of my life. It's something i've been waiting for my entire life. I'm a little nervous, but wherever I go, it'll be an amazing experience.

Yesterday, I had my four wisdom teeth pulled. It has been a weird experience. I don't remember anything. it's kinda scary. You sit down for the surgery, they put an IV in your arm and then the next thing you know, you wake up in a new room and in a different chair. Your mouth is completely numb and you feel like you're falling. Apparently I said a lot of things that I don't remember but i'd rather not mention those things.

Anyway, things have been going great. My mission is coming up so so fast. It's a little bit scary. However, i'm sure it will be over just as fast and I need to live out every moment I have serving the lord wherever he sends me.

Albums

I guess I have this thing for lists......I don't know. They are fun....

So, as many of you know, I love music. I love Tuesdays because it's the day new music comes out. This list is a list of my favorite albums. I love a lot of artists and a lot of albums, but there are very few records that i STILL listen to from end to end. Those are my favorite albums and often my favorite artists. There aren't a lot of them....but here are most of them.

Benton Paul--Grey

Benton Paul is one of my all time favorite musicians. He is LDS like I am and his music is very simple. It's very real. There isn't a lot of distortion. I've seen him perform multiple times and he is a fun guy and a lot of fun to listen to. You probably don't know him....but he's awesome

Parachute--The Way it Was

I just found this album last year...and fell in love with it. I wasn't going to buy the whole album originally, but I couldn't decide what songs I wanted from it so.....haha, I bought it all. It was not a mistake. 

Fleetwood Mac--Rumours

This album was before my time. It was an album my dad had. It's one of his favorites. So, he showed it to me and it's a great album. Funny story about it---When I was in ninth grade, I had a Geography teacher (We'll call him Mr. P.) who loved classic rock. One day, for some odd reason, he was freaking out about how nobody in the class knew who Fleetwood Mac was. I had just talked to my dad about them so I explained to Mr. P. that I knew who they were and we had a little talk about them....Mr. P. gave me ten points of extra credit for that day. Thanks dad.

Paramore--RIOT

Love paramore. Haley has a crazy voice. They need to release some new music because this album rocked!

The Rocket Summer--Hello, Good Friend, Do You Feel, Life Will Write the Words

Bryce Avary is probably my favorite musician ever. He writes all the music for his album by himself....as in everything. Drums, piano, guitar, lyrics, EVERYTHING. His music is very clean and awesome. These are my top three albums he has released. Not a lot of people like his voice, but he is crazy talented and I love his music. I was able to go see him perform live recently. He put on the best show I have ever seen. 

Mayday Parade--A Lesson in Romantics

This album is...fun. It's the only word to describe it. It's such a fun album. Loved this band. I don't care what anyone else thinks. Mayday Parade is not the same without Jason. Jason isn't the same without Mayday Parade. Go Radio and Mayday Parade are nowhere as good as A Lesson in Romantics.

Muse--Absolution

Another crazy fun album. Muse is an incredible band. Another crazy band I saw live. they are amazing live. Unfortunately, they don't make music like Absolution anymore. I was little disappointed with their newest album. This is my favorite album they released.

John Mayer--Where the Light is

This is a live concert by John Mayer. He is an amazing guitarist and an amazing vocalist. This is such a fun concert to listen to....I don't think i'll ever see him live though. He's kinda a dirtbag.

These are just a couple of my favorites.....Ok. i'm done with lists now. That was fun. :)

That List

Remember my last post? Haha, probably not. Here is a small list of things I love....don't worry. This isn't everything.

• Food--yeah...it needed to be said
• Music--Anything musical. I love listening.
• People in my life--I'm very blessed. My family rocks (Jon comes home tomorrow and i'm dying) My friends rock. Maddy is always there for me.....yeah. I love the people in my life.
• the Gospel--I love my religion
• Ummm

Ok....this list is boring...How about stuff that I love that you wouldn't know that I love....weird stuff I guess. My secret loves

• Hardcore music--You might not know that I love hardcore rock. I've toned a lot of it down because usually hardcore rock is really unhealthy to listen to. Some of it is fun though.
• Shopping--Maybe not shopping...but I love walking around stores...it's really relaxing
• Dancing--Dancing is so fetching fun. Anyone that was in musical productions knows that it was one of my favorite things about that class. I didn't know how much I loved it until I auditioned for the class....but it's awesome.
• Drives--I love driving.There is always a point where too much of something gets old...but otherwise, I love love love driving.
• Cello--Cello is the instrument I wish I had learned to play. It is absolutely gorgeous
• Fires--.....as in campfires. I don't like smelling like fire, but I love campfires and s'mores and jam sessions
• Biking
• Disney--My dad is a Disney freak. He loves anything Disney....and he raised me well.
• Laughing
• Winter clothing--I hate being cold but for some reason I love winter clothing.
• Blues clues--Don't you judge
• Old movies--Just because they are old doesn't make them bad.

This list

This could be fun. I kinda want to make a list of things I love and hate......here are some things I hate.

Does it bother anyone else that there isn't a coma after "SLOW"....it makes me think that they are slow children...or stupid children.

• Video Games--I spent so much time in High School watching other people play video games.....When I come over to hang out, I don't want to sit and watch someone play video games. I had so much fun in High School....the best times didn't involve video games.
• Racism/Stereotypes--enough said
• High School Drama--It's funny cuz when you leave high school, the drama stays.                  
• Modern Standards--So, as a lot of you know, I haven't had a TV in my house. Say what you will, but watching TV is really hard to do today. Sometimes, I find myself turning my head from the TV because of an image in a commercial....and I shouldn't have to do that...I hate it.
• Drivers--I swear, people are stupid when they wrap their hands around the steering wheel of a car.
• The Dentist--My dentist, Dr. Corey, is nicking sick...but I still hate going.
• Cancer
• When a good band makes a horrible record/Sell outs

Randy is silly

Randy is silly. And since he posted on my blog...well I always learned that you do unto others as they have done unto you...or something like that. SO. Here it goes :)

Bandy is nice
Bandy is fun
Bandy is.....
NUMBER ONE!!

A leetle poem for a funny guy.

That I like :)