Scripture Sharing!

So when I was attending high school at Idaho Falls High School I attended seminary. Seminary was by far my favorite class starting my Junior year partly because I decided to change my attitude and I started to soften my heart and open my mind and pay attention. As I found myself sitting in seminary and actually paying attention I was starting to feel the Spirit. Then after that one thing was happening after another like I started praying and I started reading my scriptures (specifically the Book of Mormon because that's what we were studying). Everyday we would be asked if anyone had anything they would like to share what they learned from their scripture study from the night before and nobody would really ever share and it would seem like the longest 20 seconds of my life waiting for nothing. So that's when it hit me maybe I wasn't really getting anything out of the scriptures because I wasn't looking for anything specific and I made it a goal as I studied my scriptures I would look for something new and share it in seminary. And that is the moment I lived for everyday during the rest of my high school experience. This changed my life and the way I looked at life. I was sharing the gospel everyday and no wonder I was always on a spiritual high! And the funny thing is that's what I'll be doing for the next 2 years!!!

So I have decided that since I don't have seminary to share a scripture everyday I am going to try and use my blog to help build me up again and hopefully I can help those of you that read my blog with a spiritual thought.

So I was reading in Alma 17 and it talks of Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah meet up again after several years. Then they all go there separate ways preaching to the Lamanites. And then you read an epic story about Ammon becoming a servant to King Lamoni, but I wont go into it. You'll just have to read it.

In verse 2 and 3 it talks about when Alma met up with the Sons of Mosiah and how after several years "they were still his brethren in the Lord." They were such good missionaries they studied their scriptures regularly, prayed and fasted often and because of these things they had the spirit of prophecy, the spirit of revelation, and taught with the power and authority of God.

To me that is just so cool to know that as we live our lives the way we are suppose to, we are are promised blessings in return. And as a future missionary these blessing will mean more to me. I hope the people I preach to, and the companions I have, and friends I make throughout my mission and life I can say they were still my brethren in the Lord!

Another verse I enjoyed is verse 11:

"And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls." 

Yes, right now it seems like they are all missionary scriptures, but I find it really cool because the Lord told me that I am going to to serve a mission and that I will go forth among the people of Argentina and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that its not going to be easy but I know it's going to be worth it and as I strive to be a good example as a disciple of Christ I will be in instrument in the Lord's hands and help bring people to the knowledge of my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

AZ Adventure: Day 4

So Saturday night we had a late night and I was up early.... well early enough to go to church but nobody was up. So we didn't go and instead I worked on a puzzle with Natalie. Then that evening I went and visited Jeremy and Calleen and the rest of the family!!!

It was so good to see all of them! They all crack me up and I have missed them all so much! While I was there we also jammed out playing Just Dance 3! It was so much fun and I came prepared with my under armor that's why you see black under my shorts. Stop looking Sicko!!!

This is my second oldest brother, Jeremy and my nephew Thomas! Calleen's family came over for dinner and it was crazy to see how everyone was growing up because I haven't seen some of them for years! When I first got there Thomas wanted to play Mario Kart Wii with me and man he was tough competition!

This is my beautiful niece, Callie! She always makes me feel so lucky to be her uncle because every time she sees me she gives the best squeezes like she hasn't seen me for years and doesn't ever want to let go. She is such a sweet girl!

These are my twin nieces Brooklyn and Katelyn. They are so cute! Brooklyn wasn't shy at all by Katelyn was warming up to me at the end of our visit. They are so fun! We played Honey, Do You Love and Brooklyn came up to me with her big brown and asked do you love me and there was no way that I could smile.

This is my Game-a-holic sister-in-law Calleen. We get along so well! My brother married well. Calleen and Jeremy were dating back when I was a baby and she is just like one of my older sisters! She was telling me how she would ask my mom if she could take me with her to run errands and stuff in her old rusted pickup.
It was so nice to see them again and hopefully I will be able to see them again at Trev's wedding in less than two weeks!!! I love you guys!!!

AZ Adventure: Day 3

So on Saturday we actually went on a family hike up at Usery Pass.

I was hoping you could read the bill board. I thought it was funny but it say "End of your search for a friendly church" to me it sounded kinda cheesy and sugesting that the Gospel Light Baptist Church was the only friendly church.



This is a mountain that we past which was pointing to Phoenix nothing too exciting but it looks official!

This is the mountain that we hiked around and up. I was a good hike nothing like spending the day with family on a hike.

Not really my favorite picture of me but this blog isn't really about me. Ha who am I kidding?! Of course it is! Gage is in the back seat.

Crew wanted me to take a picture of him. Silly kid!!!

Look at all the Swarrow cactus. It was actually really pretty but don't get me wrong the desert is quite intimidating with all the poky plants! We also saw a lot of Jumping Cacti and Prickly Pear Cacti.

It's not what it looks like, Gage WANTED to be in the picture with me! He is such crazy and funny kid!!!

This just cracked me up too! This isn't doesn't look anything close to what a National Forest looks like further up north.

Me and the Belnap Clan besides Natalie. Of couse she always has to be the one taking the pictures!

I love my family and the time we get to spend together!

I don't mean to hurt anyones feeling but these are my favorite cousins, Kortney and Ryker! Kortney is my cousin on my Schroeder side and Ryker is my cousin on my Bingham side. Did you know at one point they were actually dating! It was hard for me to get through my head that they weren't related to each other. I sure do love these guys.

So we finished our evening off with a bon fire with s'mores and hot chocolate even though it really wasn't cold I still had a blast!





AZ Adventure: Day 2

Well we actually started our day off at....

We had to make sure that we got there early so we can make a mad dash when the doors opened. 

We were on a secret mission to find some pretty sweet shoes for Lizzie!

We were looking for Tom's which are the most comfortable shoes in the world and I actually ended up having to grab a pair of my own. 

By the way that is Giant Barbie Pez dispenser that Natalie got for my brother Trev!

By the time we finish shopping at Last Chance, we were starving! We didn't actually go to Pete's Fish & Chips but we went to Pirate's Fish & Chips which is the same. It sure was delicious too! I just had to take a picture of Pete's because this is the place we would eat a lot when I was a kid!

 This is the 60 and its 6 lanes wide and sometimes even 7 and on Tuesday I drove on it. I was so much fun and it was quite a rush compared to what we normally experience up here in Eastern Idaho. Oh and The yellow lights at the intersections are are like 3 seconds longer in AZ.

 Haylee stole my camera and took a picture of her and Jetta!

 This is an Arizona sunset from inside the car on a the 60! 

Isn't it beautiful?

 

 Natalie and I also took Haylee to her volleyball practice! She was doing such a good job!

 And this is my nephew Crew, he is 6 years old and climbing up a pipe onto the Mesa High Building! Crazy kid. Natalie didn't even know until he was pretty much on top of the building. Boy was she freaking out. She had good reason to after all it was a tall building!

 This is me in front of the house I once called home! It was sad to see it because i just didn't look like my home anymore but I love where I live now even more. If you see to the left of me is a big boulder, I use to sit on that rock a sing my little heart out with I was a wee lil' lad! Before I came to my old house I visited my best buddy's family for a little. It was sure good to see them! My best buddy is actually up here in Idaho serving his mission and I have ran into him twice already and let's just say it wasn't by accident. I will actually get to see him again on Thursday and have dinner with him because my Aunt Becky is living up in Rigby where he is serving and she invited him over for dinner. I am super excited!

 These handcuffs were actually in my brother-in-law's buddy's car and a murderer was actually in these handcuffs. Isn't that scary to think that someone who thinks that they could just take another person's life was in these! To me it's crazy to even believe someone could do that!

And we finished out our night with some Little Caesar's Hot and Ready crazy crust pizza! 

So good!

It sure was a great day!

I got my own pair of TOM'S!

AZ Adventure: Day 1

My Trip to Arizona was one that was long over due and very much need. I need to or else I really really wanted to see my family down in the south before I left for Argentina for 2 years! I had such a great time! Thanks to Nat and Jerm for everything!

(Me and Jetta)
When I first got there Natalie took me to Paradise Bakery for lunch and it was delicious.

I know this might be a little gross but Natalie loves popping mine and Trev's backs. And once we got to her house she was getting a little anxious. It was quite painful!

This is the bed they fixed for me. Juicy Couture pillow case is how I rolled this weekend. This was Jetta's room that she was so kind to let me sleep in.

"Absolutely FABULOUS" are the first words I read every morning. Haha! Oh and did I mention that PINK is totally my favorite color. . . . NOT!!!

 (Haylee my beautiful 13 yr old niece)
They are both just so pretty!
The rest of the night I just hung out with the rest of my family.But I was really enjoying the warm weather while I was down there.

A Day With Crystal!!!

So I started my day with Crystal Ponce at 8:30 this morning at breakfast at Perkins. It was pretty yummy! Thanks Crystal! Then after that we went to high school to visit our favorite teacher, Mr. Clifford, and what was left of our old drama class. Afterward we went to the temple visitor center and it was so great.

I am so glad that we were able to spend the day together and go to the Idaho Falls Temple Visitor Center. It was an experience I won't ever forget. When we got there were we saw pictures of the exhibit that they had just gotten moved but it was still nice and then I was able to bear part of my testimony. Then we watched to movies in their theater and we watched a video about a mother and wife who experienced some burns that she recieved from a plane crash she was in with her husband. We watch a short video of two boys giving to a less fortunate farmer. That video touches me everytime I watch it. Then we watched a video on the restoration. I just feel there is no better way I could have spent my day!



I am so grateful to be such great friends with this wonderful girl. She has been there a lot for me through high school. She is definitely someone that I could talk to and have a good laugh with. She just puts me in a good mood.

Thank you Crystal for being my friend!

I love you!

Truely Man

I have been pretty good to keep well shaved but I didn't have a reason to shave.So I didn't! And I honestly hate shaving like everyone else. I have never been a fan of facial hair and I don't think there are too many people to pull it off, including myself. I discovered I have like 3 different colors of whiskers growing out of my face light blonde, brown, and RED! Weird, right?! And I had patches where light blonde was growing and It looked like I had some bald spots.

 I know it doesn't grow to fast after 5 days but it is the longest I have ever let it grow.

I don't think I will try growing that thing again! At least not til after I get home from Argentina. Maybe I should just wait till after I get married that way I don't have to worry about her changing her mind if she saw it.

Ok, maybe the red hair shouldn't be to much of a shocker. I did have some red hair as a baby!

What is going on?!

Well my Mom just came back from visiting with the doctor and we have good new and bad news!

Good New: The two tests that they gave her came back negative so they say she has no cancer!

Bad News: The doctor couldn't tell us what is wrong so now she has to make a visit to see a neurologist. And she is getting a lumbar puncture on Thursday. Radiation could have done this to you.

Nothing seems more frustrating than to have the doctors tell you that they don't know that is going on and tell you have to go somewhere else or take different tests! I wish we new something!

I pray that they will be able to help my poor mother. It really makes me sad to see her go though these trials. I know that she is an amazing woman. If you would just please keep her in your prayers. I would greatly appreciate it!

I'm such a MAN!

For those of you who don't know me I am actually quite a sensitive guy who cries during chick flicks and sacrament meetings but for over a month I really haven't felt like myself! I have felt like I was emotionally detached from the world around me as if I was numb and lifeless. And I had so many moments that I just was wanting to cry but I just couldn't. I know this sounds stupid but honestly I love crying!

I am not sure if you have ever seen any episodes of "The District" that are on missionary work and Preach my Gospel, but it was really testimony building and encouraging. I definitely was feeling the spirit tears were just flooding out. Then that night when everyone was in bed I watch the "Karate Kid" and I had at least three moments that I was losing it!

Now I can say that I am feeling better now that I can cry AGAIN because I sure was miserable!

My Poor Throat!!!

I was really debating whether or not to post this just because the pictures are somewhat disturbing and disgusting! That just might be an understatement. So Thursday I was having a small sore throat and thought if I took a bunch of vitamin C I would clear up and go away and I did this for two day. Saturday morning I did not sleep well and I felt like maybe I had the stomach flu so I called in work sick. Then later that afternoon I took a nap and I woke up and my throat was feeling ten times worse, so I found a flashlight to look at my throat. It looked horrible! I was so grossed out I have no idea how this could have happened. It is so painful, especially when I swallow. I didn't really realize how much I swallow throughout the day because each time it is unbearably painful!

Saturday night, at 8 my Dad takes me to Redicare and we are waiting in the waiting room for 2 hours and once we got called back to a room we didn't leave for another hour and a half. Got to love spending your Saturday nights like this. And while we were waiting in the room my Dad started getting restless, impatient, and moody and this did not help my headache. I do appreciate him taking me though. The doctor did end up talking to us he said that the swab test came back negative and he said that the test isn't always accurate. So de prescibed me antibiotic and some stuff for me to gargle. I hope the meds work!

WARNING: You are about to witness some disturbing pictures of my tonsils.

Ready to see some NASTY pictures of my throat?!

Prepare yourself!

Trust me they might make you sick!

That's how it makes me feel realizing that was really coming for my tonsils.

This first one was taken on Saturday.

These were taken this morning.

Eww, right?

Hopefully with the antibiotics the doctor prescribed it will help clear it up!

I leave for Arizona in 11 days!

Immunizations and Frustrations!

So yesterday was an interesting day, it started off by me going to get my IMMUNIZATIONS!!! That's one less stress out of the way.

This was my nurse, Pat Fletcher, she was such a sweet lady! She gave me that cool Spider man sticker for doing so good when she gave me my shots.

She gave me some cool band aids too! A bright orange one and two Tazz band aids!

Then that afternoon, my mom pasted out in the bathroom and hit her head on the tub, bruised her knee and hurt her shoulder. I don't know what I'm going to do with that lady. She worries me so much. I hope when it's my time to leave for the MTC she will be alright.

Thursday, my mom got an CAT scan and an MRI because she has been so shaky, her hearing is getting worse and worse, she passes out, and she's not very stable when she's trying to get around. We are suppose to hear back from the doctor on Monday. And this morning as I was waiting for the sauna to heat up I walked into my parents room because I thought I heard my Dad and I thought he had work today, I guess I didn't have work today but anyways he told me to come sit on the edge of the bed, so we could talk. And he told me, "Whatever we hear on Monday from the doctor, don't change your plans." It breaks my heart to hear these words, especially coming from my Dad because to me it sound like he is preparing for the worst. Sometimes I ask myself, why does this have to happen to me and my family and why now! I might even be jumping to conclusions. I just feel numb sometimes with all the worry and stress that I have experienced over the last 10 months.

And for those who don't know my mom was diagnose with Burkitt's lymphoma on March 14, 2011. She had to have chemotherapy for just over 4 months with 7 treatments and each treatment lasted a week long. She would sometimes be in the hospital 1 1/2-2 weeks and the first treatment she had she was there for 3 weeks. These were definitely trying times for me and my family trying to be optimistic and have hope that everything would be alright.

Then on August 21, 2011 we receive some great news, my mother's cancer was in remission! In September, she started radiation to make sure the cancer would be gone for good. Radiation went well but we knew it would take time for my mom to get back her strength, energy, and hair. haha. The truth is when people ask me how my mother is doing I tell them she is doing pretty good but most of the time it's a lie. I am just sick of telling people bad news all the time and it wares on me.

Everyday is a challenge, but I try to do my best to keep my chin up and try to go forward with faith. But whatever we hear from the doctor, I am not going to change my plans, I am going to go on this mission no matter what because this is what I am suppose to do. My mom and I have actually talked about this countless times and they were all "eye full of tear" moments. Sometimes I denied that I would leave her if she was sick but I know it's one of the best things I can do. The Lord will take care of my mom and my family as serve Him! I know I shouldn't talk this way but if something happens to her while I'm gone. I know she will be watching over me and be with me encouraging me along the way! :)

I love you, Mom!

BYE BYE CHEROKEE!!!

This is what I happen to wake up to this Friday morning! One of my best buds missing!!! Well I guess I should say he has new owners now.

Oh Blue, I know we have had our differences from the leaky power steering, to the cracked windshield, to the flat tire on Taylor Mountain, to the bumper getting riping off in the school parking lot, and to the MPG but these last 3 years together have been great. I also have to mention Trev because Cherokee really wasn't mine but he kinda was because while Trev was go on his mission he left the jeep in my posession. And when Trev returned home, not too long after her bought Lizzie's old Honda Civic. So Cherokee has been pretty much my ride for the last 3 years!

I know we have had our times but he was always so good to me and always got me to where I need to go. I didn't really realize how hard it is to write this and not cry!

I just keep having all these memories flooding back that I had with this trusty vehicle that I have come to know so well.

I also remember a time that Cherokee was actually a part of a student film that we had to make for and English project and it was one experience that I won't forget with Shaleen, Caitlin, and Greg. We had used the inside of the jeep to be the inside of a rocket and we were using a Barbie and Greg beat it to death. You just had to be there!

Then the times I would be parked in the school parking lot or parked outside Crystal's house having a serious, sad, or outrageously funny conversation and we were either crying or laughing or talking with british accents. Good Times!

I also had these "moments" when I always did something stupid when I had a friend in the car for the first time with me. I think it was because I would be so nervous having someone new in the car with me and I would be so self-conscious of everything.

The times I did a little bit of off roading or took pictures with friends as we were driving. Or even pulled over to have a little dance party around the car or he would get to hear my friends' deep dark secrets. Oh and to remind everyone, what has been said in Cherokee stays in Cherokee!

Then there were times I would sit in the jeep and just think or meditate. Cherokee has really been one of my good friends that always knew what was going on in my life and my deepest darkest secrets. Some people have there dogs but I had my Jeep! Whenever I was driving, to whereever I was driving I was always saying my prayers but only when I was alone, of course. My Jeep has been one of my best buds!!! It is sad to see you go but I know that your new owners need you now. Be good to them. Don't forget me because I will never forget you, especially because of the constant mark in the street you made that will never go away! Make sure those that are with you are wearing protection. . . . Their seat belt!!!! You sickos!

I LOVE YOU, MAN! 

I will miss you a ton!

And thanks again, Trev! You're the best!