Families are Forever

Thursday of last week, 4 September 2014, my brother called me at 6:30am. He's in Arizona, so his time was 5:30am. The whole conversation consisted of him telling me that my grandfather had died in the night. It was 6:30am and I had literally woken up to my brother's phone call. I had to shower, get ready, go to work, and go to school. So, that's what I did. I went on with my day and did what I had to do. At 8am, my Dad called and I talked to him, and then he asked me if I wanted to talk to my Grandma. Honestly, no I did not want to talk to her. Her husband of over 50 years had just died. She was no doubt very upset and I knew that if I talked to her, I would cry. I talked to her, and nothing. No crying at all, on my end at least.

The next day, I had to do it all again. So I did. That day being Friday, the plan was to go to Arizona to see my family. I would leave Friday night after work and class and get home early Saturday morning. I decided to skip class that night and just start the drive. I didn't want to drive all night long and so leaving at 5:30pm would provide that I got home to Arizona at about 2:30am Saturday morning.

On the drive home, I had a lot of time to think. Ten hours in a car leaves you a lot of time to do whatever you can do behind the wheel of a car, which is not much but think and listen to music. I started to think about why I was so content and calm about the whole thing. My initial reaction was, 'why haven't I cried yet? I cry in everything and this hasn't brought me to tears yet?' I had plenty of time to think about why I hadn't, and then it came down to what I know. I know the Plan of Salvation and I know that families can be together forever. If I know this, then why should I be sad? Of course, I started crying after I came to this realization, and because Dirt by Florida Georgia Line came on, so naturally, I cried. 

When I got home, my family was all pretty calm and content. Everyone was happy and it was great to be back home. It's always a relief for me to see my parents. A lot of stress leaves me when I see them and it's refreshing.

I have a testimony of families. I know that through the temple, we can live happily with our families for all eternity. The temple is the key to eternity, and I strive to live my life worthily to enter the temple and partake of the blessings therein.

The Gilbert Arizona Temple

The Oakland California Temple

The Salt Lake City Utah Temple

The Phoenix Arizona Temple

The Mesa Arizona Temple

Pioneer Day?

Apparently in Utah, there is a day where no one works, and everyone parties and gets together, and barbecues, etc. It's not celebrated anywhere else. It's Pioneer Day. Growing up in Arizona, I knew about Pioneer Day, but we didn't throw any huge celebrations. 

Pioneer Day is the commemoration of the day that the Latter-day Saints, being led by Brigham Young, entered the Salt Lake Valley on 24 July 1847. The Latter-day Saint Pioneers traveled thousands of miles across prairies, through rivers, and over mountains to obtain their promised land. The place where they would erect "the temple of our God." The place where the church would fluorish and find solace and refuge from those who wished and tried to tear them down and destroy them. 

After over 160 years, the Saints still have peace and solace along the Wasatch Front of the Rocky Mountains. Spreading clear up and down the Mormon Corridor and eventually around the world, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to grow and fluorish.

Living in Provo, Utah and being a member of the LDS Church, I observe the day that the Pioneers entered what would become their home. Such events would ultimately allow for millions of people including myself to one day join the Mormon Church and enjoy the blessings of the restored gospel. 

As I drove back from Phoenix last week, I looked at the mountains up close and from afar. How amazing it is that the Pioneers were given the strength to cross such dangerous terrain and climb such intense mountains to reach their future home. Clearly, the journey was not easy, and from records and evidence it was very hard. Oh, but how grateful I am and how grateful many are for the sacrifice of the Saints. For their diligence in obtaining a home, that the church might be built up and spread throughout all the world. That families might have joy in safety, in peace, and in the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

This is His church. They didn't travel thousands of miles just to leave behind terror and the face of adversity. They moved west for us. They knew that what they loved and what they would ultimately die for was real. They yearned to see their children taught in the ways of righteousness. They yearned to see their grandchildren take the gospel to the ends of the earth. They in no way crossed the plains for themselves, but for us. They suffered, for us. Many of them died, for us. They wept and struggled, for us. I would consider myself a modern-day pioneer, but I don't dare put myself in the same category as them. Their adversity is much and their faith is great. How grateful I am for the courage and faith of the Latter-day Saints in that day. Because of them, I found the truth. 

Phoenix, You'll Always Be Mine

I spent 5 days this week in Phoenix, Arizona where I grew up and lived for 20 years until I left on my mission. Going in the middle of July was.....smart? It was hot.....really hot, but I enjoyed it. I hadn't had a Phoenix summer in 4 years, with the mission, selling pest control, school, etc. I will tell you though, 5 days was plenty. I sweat enough for 4 more summers away.

Seeing my family was great. It's always nice to see them and to feel of their love in person instead of over the phone or Skype.

Here are some pics from the trip:

The Phoenix Temple is near completion and should open in October or November.

Brennan, Grandpa, and I

Sarah, Brianna, Veronica, and I. Basically my second family. Growing up with them, there was never a dull moment and everyday was an adventure. Brianna just recently graduated from college and I couldn't be happier for her! Her and I have been best friends for 10 years now, and I don't doubt that we will be best friends for many, many years to come.

Family favorite :) finally got some real Mexican food! Haha

These are just some pics from the drive. Edited of course. What pics don't I edit anymore?

The trip was great. The friends and family were even better.

Come What May, and Love It

My mind is always running about 100 miles/minute. That's just what it does. It has always done that and it will always continue to do that. That's just part of my life. There are times where I can't sleep because my mind just keeps running and running. It totally sucks, but you get used to it.

Lately though, I have really been putting a lot of focus on the Savior and how He can help me overcome the struggles and the pain. That has helped me so much, strengthened my testimony, and has added to my knowledge of the Savior and His Atonement. This knowledge and this testimony brings me peace and doesn't get rid of the struggle or the pain, but it makes it manageable. It gives light and meaning to hardship. When we came to this earth, we knew that we would struggle, be tempted, feel pain, and be tested. That was the purpose for coming here! We have to feel that in order to return to Heavenly Father and live with Him and our families forever. The Savior suffered and felt the pains, struggles, and hardships of the world in the Garden of Gethsemane. We, like Jesus the Christ, have to set foot in Gethsemane if we are to become like Him. We have to. Though we will never feel what He felt or the intensity of that pain, we must get as close to it as humanly possible. It will suck. It will hurt. It will not be fun. It will bring tears to your eyes in sadness and pain, but will be followed by tears of a joyful and peaceful heart. We are loved by so many people and for me, that is how Heavenly Father has healed my wounds, through friends and family. 

Since moving to Provo, I have lost friends. Friends that I thought loved me and were there for me. That hurt, but what made it right was the love of those friends and family who truly did love me and who truly did care about me. I was required to be hurt and offended and ridiculed to see that I had much better around me, all along. That hardship was required for me to see my true friends and to weed out the fake and rude people in my life.

I have recently gained a friend who has helped me with my anxiety and has bandaged the wounds. He has been there for me and has alleviated my anxiety and the pain that comes from it. He has become one of my best friends. He has been a blessing from Heavenly Father in that I can trust him and I know that no matter what, he's got my back. That, in and of itself, is the calm after the storm, the light at the end of the tunnel. 

I've recently started talking to this girl who makes me smile like no other. That's pretty fresh though and so we will see where that goes :)

Life can be amazing if you focus on what is good in it. There will always be a difficulty or a hardship, but look past it and find the good in everything. Figure out how a certain trial will help you and bring you closer to Heavenly Father. Be happy! Though sometimes that is easier said than done, if we make the choice to be happy, that choice will influence anything that is thrown at us. That choice infuriates the adversary because it brings us closer to God. In the words of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "come what may, and love it." 

To read the talk by Elder Wirthlin, click on this link: Come What May, And Love It

It's the Little Things

Provo has been one heck of a ride my friends. New school, new job, new city, new roommates, basically a whole new life. Can you say stress?? Because I sure can feel it. From emotional breakdowns to sickness to being rescued by a best friend more times than once, it's been a hell of a month.

Tonight, I had an interview with the Bishop in my new ward. His words and his counsel gave me comfort and strength that I haven't seen or felt in weeks. What a difference it made to meet with him and talk with him. He also told me that if I ever needed anything, he would drop whatever he was doing to help me. I'm grateful to know that I have a Bishop who would do that for me. I'm grateful to have a best friend who would also do that for me, as he's done it several times thus far. I'm grateful for a family who's far, but who's only a phone call away and willing to talk whenever.

I can't say that Provo is amazing and that I'm just always happy here and life is perfect, but I can tell you that everything has fallen into place. I've learned and grown from hardship, and I know that I need to be in Provo. No matter how much I miss Rexburg, I need to be here. I know that for a fact. After all the hardship and trial and difficulty, it's the little things that make all the difference.

So Much Gratitude :)

I spent this past week in San Jose. Thanksgiving was great and I had a blast! Every time I leave Rexburg or Utah or wherever it is I am, I want to be better. I left San Jose 3 hours ago and I have plans on how I can become a better person financially, spiritually, mentally, and physically. I am STOKED to get back into the daily grind and just rock the world! Many great plans will unravel upon my return to the Mormon corridor.

With this past week being Thanksgiving, I really had a lot to be thankful for. I try to be thankful on a daily basis, but of course with the holiday I rediscovered much that I have to be thankful for in my life. I'm going to list a few:

1. I have the best friends in the world. I am thankful for them every single day, but with the many things going on in my life lately, I am grateful that I can turn to them when I am struggling and I am grateful that they can always make me laugh. My best friends, they keep me sane, sometimes they make me insane but my life would be hell without them. My best friends know who they are if they are reading this, I love you guys a ton!
   
   
   
   
   
2. My family rocks! I don't see them as often as I should, but they know that I love them tremendously. We truly put the "fun" in "dysfunctional," and I wouldn't have it any other way.
   
   

3. My San Jose family kicks butt too! They allow me to come to them whenever I want and they welcome me with open arms. I always have a good time when I am with them. I love my San Jose family a ton!
   
   
   
4. I belong to Christ's true church on the earth. I could seriously write pages and pages on why I love the restored gospel. If you really want to know more, just ask me. I'm not afraid to answer questions or share stories.

I am totally going to try to update my blog more often. It's good for me and it's good for my family and friends who want to know what is going on in my life.

Oh, I have breaking news as well. I'm moving to Provo in January.....

Sigh of Relief!

A missionaries biggest fear is being forgotten by the people that he/she served. Over the weekend, I went back down to San Jose and attended a ward that I had served in. I was terrified that I would get there and no one would remember me. I had been worried last week, but as Sunday morning crept up on me, I started to really freak out. I stayed at the Osborne's house and I told Raeann and Rebekah and they both were like, "dude, you honestly have nothing to worry about!" Of course, I still was worried. We got to church a little bit late, and when we walked in, immediately, Sister Davis looked over at me and was so happy to see me! I was a little relieved because I love Sister Davis! After Sacrament meeting, everyone came up to give me a hug and to say, "hi." It was SO nice and I was SO relieved! Everyone had remembered me! All my fears fled  and I was SO happy to be in the Almaden Ward. I had really missed those people and I was very grateful to go back and visit them. Definitely won't be the last time :)

This is the Osborne family, plus Andrew, minus Ramsey. I love these guys so much!!! They are family to me. We went to McDonald's and got hot fudge sundaes in our pajamas. SO much fun!!!