To Who I Am Becoming...

FAITH: A PRINCIPLE OF ACTION “Now faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11, first verse. I thought about that last night at 11:30 when I decided that it would be a good time for me to write my talk. After searching for inspiration by studying dance moves in the movie hitch I decided to try another tactic so I went for a long walk and listened to Barbra Streisand and found inspiration. I came home and started to read the first article in The Lectures on Faith and found what I was looking for. In response to the quote I just gave it says, “From this we learn that faith is the assurance which men have of the existence of things which they have not seen, and the principle of action in all intelligent beings.” It was this second part that caught my attention. To think of faith not as something simply done or not done within the confines of our own minds, spirits, and bodies but as an action, a visible and physical act t...

Today I woke up and was able to get lots of work done. I was able to run and not get weary, walk and not get tired. I was not able to get everything done on my list but I was able to get more things done then I have been able to for a long time. At the end of the day I had a meeting for my church calling and instead of it being something to add on top of all of the stress it was something that calmed me and made all of the other work seem easy and worth it. These are the things I am thankful for.

This is so that I can remember and so that everyone can join in my fun. Who: Chris ( no last name for protection ) When: Wednesday October 13, 2010 - Friday October 15, 2010 Where: His house and Stake Center What: Bishop's Ball Dance Why: I have no idea... but no ones complaining. Story: I had just meet with the bishop who among other things asked me if I was going to go to the Bishop's Ball. I said "I wasn't planning on it. No one has asked me." To which he said "Well, expect one." I thought this was a long shot because I have never been asked out on a date and I was hopping that this bishop wasn't the kind to play matchmaker. (p.s. he didn't and isn't, thank goodness). Well later that night I was just getting ready for bed and my phone rang. I nearly jumped out of my skin because no one has called me in forever and I keep forgetting that people have my number up here. Chris had a hard time getting out the que...

The clock ticks closer to 2:30. I sit across the room enjoying the softness of the couch cousins before my work begins. I start working in my head all the things I know about the subject of fractions and making lists of the ways that I can convey the information in my head to another person. After a few minuets I decide that I can’t work out anything good so I give up and decide I will just try to flow with my student and react to what she needs both in the moment and long term. I hear a far away door swing, feet clomping, and strange silence. This is strange because usually the voice hits before the other sounds but today there is nothing. Solemnly my little friend walks into the room and lays down her backpack without taking out her customary fractions homework assignment. I frown thinking about how I will have to insist and convince my friend that she can do the work and have her reluctantly retrieve her work page. I don’t want to have this “fight”. She comes and sits down next t...

I am twelve all over again. That excited and yet scared feeling you get that makes you want to jump around the room and at the same time run away from the room because it is not a place for you, a kid. I am walking into a meeting quietly behind my mother. My mother is nowhere in the room and I am not twelve but I flash back to those times when I would go with my mother to a meeting where everyone was glad to see me but knew I was just a living ornament for my mother to show off. I know that this group does not feel that way about me but it doesn't matter because I feel that way. My Good Friend introduces me to the group warmly and everyone says hello to me but no sound escapes my lips, only a small smile and nod. We begin and I start to feel more at ease because I know a little about what is being talked about but still distant because I don't know what my role is yet in that dialog. The meeting ends faster and slower than I feel it should. Some of the people chat with me and s...

This summer has been so much fun. After having the last year suck so much that I thought about committing a crime just so I could be taken out of it. I was so excited to be able to go to Hong Kong with some friends of mine. I spent a whole summer traveling, reading lots of books, eating new things, and just having lots of fun. When I came back I had to run around and get ready to movie again to Canada. I have loved to see all of my friends and family. It has been fun to travel and I know the next few years will be fun as well.

I just got my invitation for Stephanie's Graduation. I am so proud of my friend! Congratulations! I am going to go down to St. George in a week and celebrate with my friends.