Missing the days of Mayberry

My homework use to consist of the following--

--Play nice

--Be patient

--Don't say bad words

--Tell your Mom you love her

--Hug your Dad when he walks in the door

--and last but not least learn how to write your name.

Todays homework consists of--

--Find the mass percentage of the isotope Li 7

--Diagram and explain the flow of DNA within a cell

--Explore the metals that constitute Nicnol

What happened?! Also I can't help but think that we moved onto the more complex things before mastering the basics........

No man's land

Have you ever noticed that you have wonderful control over your body. You pretty much can tell it what to do all day every day. Walk over there, eat this, move your arm this way. It follows your every thought, as you trumble about your day.

Now have you ever noticed that your body has wonderful control over you. How it can tell you what it is feeling and force you to follow it's demands of you. I'm hungry and need food, or i'm tired so I don't care where we are I need sleep. How about i'm sick, and don't feel like doing anything today except laying here, so let's do it. Your body has an amazing amount of control over what you do as you meander about your day.

It seems there is a space between what you want and what your body wants, where their wills collide. A type of no mans land where no one owns it, everyone is a afraid to go, but when put on the offensive they both scratch, claw, and scramble for every inch of it that they can take. There is a space where you can push a little harder, and stay a little stronger every day.

A Cherokee Legend

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Here is a picture to get your excited for my next post about Josh and Staci's big adventure!

I've lived those 7 days a thousand times

You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. ~James D. Miles

Isn't that the truth.

The smile on your face...

I love Frisbee, I love Bear Lake, and I love Macy. So when it came time to propose, there was really only one option. I knew that I wanted to do it at Bear Lake, using a frisbee, and I definitely knew I wanted it to be Macy there. Luckily Macy is awesome and tolerates me and I got all three. :) I am such a lucky kid.

So the day is October 8th, and I can't wait.

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.