I can't wait....

I generally like to think of myself as an optimistic person. That being said, I have usually always enjoyed my life. Sure I have my rough days, every now and then, and I have to struggle to make it through those. But very, very rarely have I ever been in a position where I laid down at night to go to sleep that I couldn't smile. I have such a good life, surrounded by good people, that it's hard not to be content with where I am at.
Which brings me to my point. Lately I have encountered a new emotion in myself. I have wanted to stop time, but at the exact same moment I have wanted to have a fast forward button just to see where this life is going to take me in the next coming days, weeks, months, and years. It's a bit of a strange thing for me. Sure I have had 2 desires in me at the same time before. (For example I usually always want to be more than 1 place at a time. I always want to be at Southwood throwing a frisbee, and I also want to be on a beach in Mexico.) But I have never had such strong desires to pause life and to fast forward at the same time. I want to pause life because I am enjoying my life so much right now. Right now at this exact moment I wish I could pause my life forever. I think if life stopped right now, I would be one of the happiest men on the earth. At the same time I want a fast forward button because I am so excited about the road that is shaping up before me. I can't help but feel that everything is going to just get better. It doesn't seem that there is a way that it could possibly get worse.
It seems lately that I have been receiving a lesson in what really matters most in this life. I have laughed, smiled, hugged, loved, and enjoyed so much more lately in everything. I am being tutored in what matters most, and I am not complaining.
Now with all that said, as always in life, I am sure a tough day will come. I am sure what seems to be an endless sunshine will inevitably produce a cloud that will bring rain, thunder, lightning, maybe snow, and rough seas. It's for moments like those that we have moments like the ones I am having right now. So when the tough times come all I have to do is remember first that all things pass, and second how good life can be when surrounded by those that we love the most. Never truer have been the words, "men are that they might have joy."
Quote for today: Happiness is not found in activities, but in people.

It's been so long

Here is a conversation held on the couch of my living room, while Star Wars Episode III:Revenge of the Sith was on TV.

Josh: If I lived in Star Wars times I would definitely be a Jedi, that would be great. Don't you think so? Wouldn't you be a Jedi?

Brock: I don't think so. I don't think i'm that lucky. I think I would be a droid.

I don't know what i'd do, if I lost you

When every young person goes off to college, they prepare physically, and emotionally for the changes that are about to take place in their lives. I don't think they will ever truly know how much they are going to have to sacrifice and give up, in order for them to declare their independence. Since moving home I have been enjoying those luxuries, again, and the funny thing is I didn't even realize how much I was missing a few of the little things that include.....

1) A mom--Although I complain there is nothing quite like being asked every time you leave the house if you have a jacket. :) Or how about when before she goes to the store, or just out for the day she asks "do you just need anything today?" Thank goodness for moms in this world, which brings me to my next point......

2) A magically refilling fridge, and pantry--Never underestimate the power of a full stomach, and it's correlation with a good mood. Thanks mom

3) A good bed--Not that we didn't have beds, but there is a difference between those boards at the Riv and this wonderful thing I sleep on now.

4) Talking to dad--I forget how consistent Dad is. I love our talks, late night or early morning. Afternoon phone calls, and so much solid advice that I don't know what to do with it. Someone told me once "The older you get, the more right your dad is." True.

5) Good internet--I don't think i'm going to leave much of an explanation here. If you know anything about the Riv, you know no internet is sometimes better

6) Living in SLC--The traffic is better up here, the parks are better up here, and there are not TDS banners everywhere I look.

This post would not be complete without me throwing a shout out to Provo though. Because although I complained, now that I no longer live there, I see how much I miss things there. I won't do a list because it would be a short list, and really only has to do with people that I miss. I really, really, miss living within 5 minutes of Macy. I miss Brock, Preston, Alvin, Andrew, and even Moses. And for some twisted reason I miss the Riv. Probably because of the people that I miss. But still.........

This is a "as of late" picture. I love spending time with this girl.

I'm just to far from where you are

Sometimes I go running.
The more I go running the more I learn about myself.

There is something that I have learned over my many years of running. That no matter how far, fast, and long I run today, when I go running tomorrow it will still hurt. It is inescapable.

I use to try to change that. I use to be under the impression that maybe one day the pain would leave me alone while out on my run. But he never changes. Like the sun rising in the East, he consistently visits every time I am out for another run.

But there is something that changes on my runs. It's not the run itself that changes, it's not the landscape, or the number of steps that it takes me to complete another mile. But I notice that the more I run today, the longer the pain takes to come tomorrow. It still inevitably comes. Like a river flowing downhill, you can't stop it. But I see the change that begins to come in me as I run longer, harder, stronger, and faster. The change that takes place is MY ability to run through the pain that comes. That's all, and that's it....

I no longer try to escape the pain that comes. Instead now I try to embrace him as a friend that I have know for a long, long time. Because I have known him for a long, long time. He comes more consistently than most people in my life. And when I feel him coming, I say hello again, embrace him, and then let him know that today is another day he is not going to win. I let him know, that today i'm going to try to outrun him again, just like yesterday. And he had better bust himself to try to keep up. Because i'm not slowing down. And i'm not going to quit. I'm better than that, and just like yesterday he won't win, because I won't give up. I'll never give in, and i'll never quit.

The feeling that I get as I overcome this small obstacle feels to good. The promise of returning home exhausted, beat up, and worn out after a long run, is too good. The vision of doing the thing that I set out to do is to great. I am better than him, and today, just like yesterday, i'll prove that. It won't be easy, and i'll want to quit just like I do every day. But I won't.

I ran yesterday, to be stronger today. I run today to be stronger tomorrow. I'll run tomorrow to prove that today was not a waste.

The more I go running the more I learn about myself.
That's why sometimes I go running.

I know that I want to go where the streets are gold, cause you'll be there

Meet my Nephew, Nolan. He is the best, that's all that needs to be said. I love him already and I can't wait to be his favorite uncle. :) I love him already. That's all I really have to say about that.

Today I feel lucky

So 3 months ago, while eating at a delicious small Chinese restaurant I received the delightful end of meal fortune cookie. Thanks Chinese restaurants for the hook up. As of late I feel fortune cookies aren't so much fortune cookies, but rather suggestion cookies. What, with things written on them like follow your heart today, or happiness is a choice, it's easily to be disappointed by the lack of creativity. Which is why it was so nice and refreshing to receive written on my fortune,

"remember three months from this day, your lucky star will be shining."

I read that and was instantly excited for 3 months from that date. The date I received this fortune was 1/20/11. So the date 3 months from then just passed, 4/20/11, so I thought I would tell you about it, and how it truly was one of the luckiest days of my life.

It was a Wednesday. I woke up at my usual time, and went to school. I was in the best parking spot in the parking lot and didn't even have to back up to get out. I took University Parkway to school, which I never do, but it was my lucky day, and I knew that if any day I wouldn't have to wait at stop lights it would be that day, and I only hit 1 stoplight. I got a call surprise call form Macy walking to class just to wish me a happy Wednesday. I went to math and all the problems I didn't finish we went over in class. We watched a movie in Botany. I talked to my sister Staci. I got a 8/10 on my anatomy quiz. I studied for probably 5 hours. Went home watched Real Salt Lake tie against Mexico. Talked to my parents. Macy came over just because she wanted to hang out. :) I was able to sleep under the same roof as almost all my best buddies and it rained for a large portion of the day. I consider myself to be very, very lucky.

So thanks Chinese restaurant for predicting one of the luckiest days of my life. Luckily for me though, tomorrow looks to be about the same type of day. :)

Lucky me.

I don't think I could live this life just going through the motions

Here comes the post that should have been done 9 months ago. Here comes a post to those people that I have known collectively for longer than I have been alive. Here comes a post to the fellas of 124.

See sometimes in life we just get lucky. That has definitely been me with my friends. And sometimes we get even luckier and get to live with the friends that have been there for us the most in life. Most people have to "put up" with their roomates. They have to struggle, and battle through most days, get in fights, and arguments, and at the end of the day go to bed mad at the people they live with. Not me. As we near the end of this school year, and as such near the end of our time together, as we all head separate ways all I can think about is how much I have enjoyed this past year and how in a huge way I wish it didn't have to end. So without further ado, here they are......

The man who adds a lot of culture to our apartment is Moses. Moses comes to us from Mali, in Africa. Moses was actually our transfer, and came to us halfway through the year. Moses is good to always help me to watch CNN. He is also great at reminding me to keep my voice down as at times I can get pretty loud.

Moses' best quotes of the year:
"Don't get involved with passion."
"Why do Provo boys always break up? The girls always hurt my friend."
"Brock you don't know anything about Broccoli."



Andrew is a Salt Lake City kid, like most of us here in 124 and has fit perfect into our schemes and plans throughout the year. Andrew makes me laugh so hard throwing out random comments, and blurbs at random times. He always keeps me updated on what is happening on politics and he is great at talking sports. It has been so fun to be able to be with him this year.

Battle of the year:
-Brock: "Andrew our apartment is so warm right now."
-Andrew: "Brock you stop that right now, RIGHT NOW!"

Funny facebook post of the year:
-Andrew to Brock: "Derek Fisher is an inspiration to many people, I wish Matt Harpring could say the same.

Quote of the year:
-Andrew: "I just had a super gay shower."

Our boy Alvin. Alvin came to us this year, very single, just off a mission, and very tall. At the end of this year, the only thing that has remained consistent about Alvin is that he is tall. He is now engaged to his love, no longer just off a mission, and 2 semesters more into his life. Alvin has saved my life many times this semester and I know he'll be great.

Most life changing experience of the year:
February 15, Alvin get's engaged. Hands down.

Something else that has changed about Alvin this year:
Alvin now listens to country music every chance he gets. In fact my favorite memory of us this year was last semester every Tuesday and Thursday morning, cleaning the apartment and blasting country music as loud as we could.

I have known my next roomate the longest. In fact he is one of my most long standing friends that I have in my life. We have been together in one way or another since we were both about 3. I have called him Presto change, P-witty, P-witt, and now just P over my life. It has been so fun to have Preston live 2 steps away from me, and to see his bright smiling face every morning. I love this kid, and i'll miss him

I love when Preston says this,
-"Let's turn Taylor on and show a little respect."

Favorite memory of the year with P
Going hunting for aliens, and blowing them sky high, while Preston saved my butt for the whole game. Then playing another round and not going to class because I needed it so much. Oh how I loved that morning.

Here comes everyone's favorite man. My personal roomate, and the guy who has kept me sane throughout the year. He already has taken off and I miss him so much. I miss our late night talks, and the way we use to be so tired in the morning, we would just stare at each other. I loved our first week together when we kept each other up all night, because our beds would creak so much. I loved when his bed fell off his cinder blocks one morning, and I know he is doing great in Austin.

Brock's quote:
"Guys I have given up all hope, and i'm going to settle for Kesha."

The best DJ in our apartment:
I am still waiting to get through an entire song when Brocks playing DJ. I don't think we ever made it past 2 minutes of a song.
-Me: "Brock I hate this song"
-Preston: "It's ok just wait 30 seconds till Brock gets sick of it and he'll change it."


This post would not be complete without a little bit to Jordan. The man who completed our apartment for 1 semester. He is now on his mission in Germany, and doing awesome. He is Preston's brother, and we loved having him around.

Quote of the year:
-Jordan: "How is the rest of your body?"

Ongoing saga of the year:
-Me: "Jordan you don't know anything about Halo, in fact i'm going to crush you in it."
-Jordan: "Anytime Josh, anytime. Just say the word."