This THE season- "Because I Have Been Given MUCH"

What does it mean to be in the true spirit of Christmas?

I have never really pondered and acted upon such promptings when I would think about what it REALLY means to be in the spirit of this season.

SAD right, I know. But I think I have found a reason to think about it now and I know why I would want to.

Service- I am doing not-stop service for the one and only. I have never really thought about how that works. Everything I am doing is for Him and I have never been better. If you really think about it and truly GIVE you don't have to worry about what is under the tree or of you even have one!

I am seeing what I haven't, you can't really see what you are missing when you don't look! I never really cared enough to look around and see that if I care just a bit less about what I wanted and saw what another lacked I would be so much better off! I wouldn't care as long as I kept my heart focused on the only thing that matters! Him and His SERVICE! So what did I do about my new found knowledge?

I saw another lack, and shared! I never really thought about what I actually HAVE. I always looked at what I DIDN'T have! That was my problem! I opened my eyes and served. Turns out that what I shared was accepted but he didn't want me to have a bad time, and something he thought was better came along, but I still tried, and it worked, it made me feel like I had a purpose!

I will NEVER forget how I feel when I serve and give to others!

The blessings are not even countable! I have been given so much and blessed by what would normally seem like a completely "basic" want. I have also learned that there are no real "basic" WANTS! But with the Lord on my side- I was given more than just those "basics" and given so much more, and they keep coming!

I love being a missionary and the blessing that I am receiving from such dedicated service! I will never forget the Love that He offers me and I will always remember, "Because I Have Been Given Much"

WOW!

Well its been quite a long time since I've updated this! SOOO much has happened! And this time it's actually ALL good things! First... I GOT MY Mission Call!!

I report on October 2nd, to the Family and Chrurch History Mission on, WAIT for it... TEMPLE SQUARE!!!! :) How could life get any better than that!? I am soo excited I can't even wait!

And not only does my life finally get to start but I am going to be going through the temple FINALLY!!!! I am attending the 9:30 session on Saturday the 12th!

I am now so ready for my life to get started, and to enjoy the blessings of giving my whole might mind strength and time to the Lord, Thanks to whom I can live with my family forever.... Also Thank you to everyone who has helped along this Journey! YEAH!!

-The Good and the Bad-

Another week: Another set of trials.

Well where should we start? I guess at the beginning (and the good) :): 

My cousin Kyle turned 1 so we had a party at My Uncle and Aunts new house! EXCITING! He looked like he had a BLAST!!! Here are some pictures, his birthday food: Pizza, Cupcakes, and Ice Cream! 

I just love my family! I thin

k that will be one of the things I will miss the most when I am gone on my mission!

2nd good thing: I went on another date, the last date I had been on I was in November.  

So I tried to make this one really fun! I accomplished that! I had a blast! We 1st went to dinner at Swensen's which is a really great diner place at Metro, great Ice Cream too! :) 

Then we went Goofy Golfing, had a 

blast there too, yes she won by only by 1 point! 38-37! I am really not bitter tho! :) 

Then we went to her house and watched Madagascar 2: Escape from Africa!

  

I had a wonderful 

time and 

maybe after this week I will 

ask her out again. We have the opposites because I thought we were doing funny but we were really doing regular, so we just did opposites! :)

Well that's all the good, anyone one ready for the bad?

The day after my date, Saturday April 24 my Uncle Don of 49 years died of Brain Cancer. In September of 2008 he went to the Dr. about excruciating headaches. There he found out that he did have cancer that was inoperable, they tried many different forms for treatment but none of them worked. He was told that he may live for about 2 more years, so the reality shock was not as brutal as it could have been. The accual reality shock came this weekend when we got the call that he had passed. I feel that I may have taken his time for granted. But will cherish the moments I did have. I did get to see him a little more frequently than others in my immediate family (dad, mom, sisters, and brothers).

 But could have used that time better, I will miss him until I reach the same spot in Heavenly Fathers plan, for I know I will see him again. Not in this life but in the future life I have to live. I will remember him with all of this Telestrial soot but will always look forward to seeing my Uncle Don, the intelligent, spiritual, funny, sometimes obnoxious, crazy cool, AMAZING; Son-Brother-Husband-Father-Uncle-Father-in-law-Cousin-Grandpa-Holy Priesthood holder, the way Our Heavenly Father sees him, in all of his Celestial Glory. 

I will always remember the way he would be able to pull out a scripture that pertained to anything life had to throw at us. 

I will always remember the way he could sound like Donald Duck or challenge almost any animal to a snorting, barking, or sound making duel, and could win! 

I will always remember the many occasions where He would show me the ropes around the Provo, Salt Lake and Mesa temples, and the many intriguing stories that would accompany these blessed temple trips. I will always remember the profound example he was to me in these sacred grounds.

 And I will know that although my physical Uncle Don will not be present with me when I receive my Heavenly gift he will be on the other side, helping to give it, in his Glorified Spirit, if he's not too busy preaching the word!

 I will always remember the first time I ever shoveled snow, learning that while you have the shovel out you do more than just your own driveway! 

Thank you for all you have done for me and anything you may still do!

I Love You and will always remember you! :)

-Your Nephew,

Brad

Life...

Well things once again have changed! What is that all about why does it have to change so quickly??? I guess just another one of those things!

I had an epiphany the other day and I think I think its a pretty good one! HA Well y'all know how my mom's situation is and well she is going to be going to University of Pittsburg, well I think I should go with her and help travel, you know help her around the airport and help get her settled! Well I didn't realize that It would be happening in like less than 2 weeks! HOW CRAZY is that!? I am so exicted to get to travel again and go to Pittsburg and get to help my mom out as well! HA 

Well I just wanted to give an update! I am having a better week so we will see how good exactly tomorrow when I weigh in! MUAHAHAHA! Also I have a date on Friday with a beautiful girl, and I'm nervous! I haven't been on a date in like 6 months! WHAT IS THAT??!! I will let cha know how it goes! I am also excited to get a new shirt for my date! HA WHAT A DORK! :)

My Pathetic Week-end!

So Today has not been such a great day! I guess it started with Thursday and just lead to today! And church was icing on my cake! And I can't even have CAKE! So I am still trying to tell my self that this is something that needs to happen! But you know what... I just want to feel depressed. So just let me have my moment!!! 

I will feel better once I get ahold of myself again but for right now, I just wanna be mad for a while! I know that watching Charly really wouldn't help that much but you know what It was quite a cute movie and I did enjoy every minute of it! I think if I could have it one way I would have it that way! Except for Charly dying at the end! HA!

Well for right now this is all you will get but if I even try to go to work tomorrow I will be in great shape! At least mentally!!! How pathetic is that! 

Reality!

WOW! Well I guess it's about time that I had a good reality check. I just didn't realise it would be this hurtful. If thats even the right way to explain it.

Well there have been quite a few checks but one stands out.

When I was younger Missionaries always seemed much older and more mature, and I guess I always imagined I would be one I just didn't imagine that part.

Well we just got two new missionaries. We got to talking and they were awesome young men. We talked about where they were from and then the conversation turned to dating and his "story" well I haven't traveled down one of those roads either. So then age came up and guess what! I am almost 2 years older that him! WHAT IS THAT! I guess I just realized that I am geting older and most of the missionaries are now younger that me! I was so taken back it took me about 2 whole days to finally snap out of couldn't get over the fact when I go into the MTC, if I ever flippin get there I will be older than most of my fellow comps. I was very upset.

Well needless to say, I got over it and realised that this is one of those things that the Lord is preparing me for. I guess through all of this I have learned that: I will be taught things in my own time and I shouldn't care that it has taken me this long to do the right things. I know what needs to be done and I know that for some reason My Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ need me to learn paicience or self-control they may even need me here for right now.

But I know that since I am doing the right things I will be blessed and I will recive those blessings when the Lord thinks I need them. Until then... I will CONTINUE!!

Trials and Tribulations

I have always imagined what my "poster" life would be like. You know the one you dream about and anytime someone asks, "So where do you see yourself in 15 years?" You automatically think about this image. Well for some, me, this is no longer and image but a dream! I have always pictured this imagination since I was about 12 I think. The first time I entered the temple was when I really started to create details.

Well certain mortal obstacles have gotten in the way of that imagination. My dreams are no longer hand-in-hand with an amazingly beautiful daughter of God. All I can see is disappointments and death. But the death I am imagining is not a physical, but a death of my self-worth. A crushing of any dream or plan, I, had. But then again when do things ever turn out the way we plan?

I have personally learned, in the last few weeks, that God knows what he is doing. We should never doubt that! I have learned that in a more painful way. Again, not so much in a physical way, but I am morally hurt.

I have been waiting for about 1 year to go on a mission, and for about 1 week I was so close I could taste it. I was done with all the interviews and had all those dreadful Doctor appointments out of the way and I was there!

So what would you do, umm tell everyone you know right! Yep and guess what I did! I had the guest list for the opening of the call, and one of my favorite parts, the temple! Then I got the call.

There was a misunderstanding and I still had 30 pounds left to loose!

So I was a freaking WRECK! I didn't want to do anything. All I felt like doing was throwing up and then going and EATING everything I could. It was quite a bad few weeks.

So after a gaining of humility and 5 more pounds I could eventually no feel anything and could think again.

Church was one of the hardest things to deal with, everyone was so excited and asked questions, I was about ready to cry. Everything made me think about how much of an unworthy failure I was. I have so many friends that were supposed to be leaving when I was reaching my half way mark, now I will be leaving by their half way mark!

Things got better and I realized that I am not in this alone and there are so many people that want to help. They will also be the one to make the journey that much more enjoyable!

To mention one person in particular:

Bear,

You have NO Idea how much our talks and your words change my life. I don't think I would be trying as hard as I am today if I didn't know you. You are such a dazzling daughter of God. You will always have a place in my heart! I will never forget all you have done for me! Thank you!

-Po

"Life" or Something like it!

Well what can I say... in a period of 3 months EVERYTHING can change! I can't belive what kinds of things I have said that what things have happened. I am guessing that is what makes the journey so enjoyable. HA
Well I am so excited to start my own journey! I am now officialy going to be turning in my papers for my mission! I am so excited... I found out Saturday, that when I return home I will be able to turn my papers in as long as I am continuting to loose or trying to loose weight!
In the last few weeks I can tell why missionarys are taken away from their comfort zones and given nothing but the gospel to worry about. I have been doing a bit of a miny M.T.C. experience myself. I am in Utah, have been for about a month now. I have only had to worry about 1 thing... loosing weight. In this 3 week peirod I have seen so many different changes in my life... (not only the 13 pounds and the dropping 4 pant sizes!) I now have the desire to go to the gym and work out, and I am now not wanting to eat all the bad stuff... I will once in a while have the piece of candy or the chocolate but I am aware of what I am eating and I know what I "really" want.
I am so thankful for all that I have and the endless amount of support, here in Utah and in Arizona. I will be ready to serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind and strength! I will Return With Honor!