Here we are

I should be in bed. I shouldn't be sooooooooo pumped up. But I'm not and I am, so I guess that should be a bad thing. But I don't think it is. Busy couple of weeks ahead. Summer, eh? Best day ever started one hour and twenty minutes ago.

The beginning of the end

This is it. The first real day of my last Strawberry Days as a child. This week may very well be the best week of my life. I have a hike to my favorite place. I have a group date with some of my favorite people. I won't get stuck on horse duty at Huck Finn Day. Seriously. It is Strawberry Days!!!!!

Near death and bird whispering

So after I went post happy Saturday, I went on a hike to my favorite area in the world, Indian Springs. Taft and I went up there. As we neared the spring, I noticed a rattler as big as my arm at its thickest point three feet from Taft and about a foot off the trail. Let us just say we booked it out of that area. So yeah, I came a foot away from almost certain death.
Today, I was trying to impress a girl (pretty far fetched, right?). Anyway, we started talking about the hummingbird feeder on my back porch. She was enthralled that the hummingbirds would stop flying to perch on the feeder. For some reason, this conversation reminded me of a story I was once told about my brother, Bob, and him holding a wild hummingbird. All I remember from the story is that he held his hand next to the feeder for a long time without moving and it landed on him. I hadn't much foresight as I said, "This will take a minute." I really didn't have any clue or even any hope that it would work. But sure enough, as the first hummingbird approached, it perched on my outstretched finger. I guess I am really impressive, but it really isn't a big deal. I didn't get a video and when I tried again for seven minutes while recording, I ended up with nothing. But I mean, ha. I am pretty proud of my ability to go headfirst into that. Good educated guess.
I will eventually continue writing the book that I am always thinking about on Friday. It just sucks because as the highest student in any of my teacher's English classes on the CRT (I aced it with 100%), it's hard to believe I have a C-. Actually it's not too hard when you know that my English teacher hates me. But we won't name names because I don't slander people.
School? Stupid. Next year will be better.
Also, this post has a lot of labels. It is just that everywhere.

Thanksgiving

Sorry, I have been super busy. I really started writing this the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Here is my gratitude in a post.
Well. Thanksgiving. One of the best, most overshadowed holidays ever. Christmas really has a knack for oozing all over November, doesn't it? But because of the beautiful day of thanks, I would like to share with you what I am grateful for.
Things

• These probably sound really materialistic, but I don't care.
• My iPhone. Anyone who has spent ten minutes with me knows I use it more than a high school girl doesn't eat lunch. I really do love it (in a non-addiction way).
• My bed. I can lay in there and fall asleep in less than a minute (which is not a good thing after I turn off my alarm). I almost never want to leave it.
• My glasses. I deserve bad eyes because for the first eleven years of my life, I wanted glasses. I thought I looked good with them. They really help me see and I don't look half bad.
• My gospel library. With the combined power of the standard works, Preach My Gospel and lots of other manuals, I can study any subject. I really love spending that half hour every night set aside to study. I always get something out of it.
• Books. I can never get enough reading material.
• Trees. I wish I had had a tree house because I love trees.
• Water. I can't live three days without the stuff.

Places

• My room. I sleep in it. I study in it. That's why I love it.
• My house (especially when I'm alone). Their is a level of comfort in one's home that is unobtainable for any other place.
• The KPGR radio room. I love being on the radio. Really, it is so much fun. I can forget the stupidity of the world and just enjoy myself. I love it.
• Indian Springs. You know how every person has one place that isn't a part of the rest of the world? That is how I feel about Indian Springs. It is one of the most relaxing places in the world.
• The temple. If you don't know why I love this place, you haven't been there.
• My desk. I really only study my scriptures there and type letters. I think I have had more personal revelation there than anywhere else in the world.

People

• My parents. They care for me and they forget that they don't have a choice in my missionary plans (they want me to stay home and be with them instead of leaving). They are so good to me.
• Trevor Ward. I have talked about him a few times. I haven't even scratched the surface of the man I care about. He is one of the best friends I have ever had. He is a great guy.
• Kassie Hamilton. She is a great artist and song writer and sometimes I think that she doesn't know how much I care about her. She is like the sister I never had. She is kind to everyone, even the ones I know she wants to punch in the face (which is me, some of the times).
• Brock Duclos. I miss him so much and he really shows how a missionary should be. He is great.
• Russell Mayo. He is a teacher at PGHS. He teaches Radio. He changed my life. He is one of the nicest, most selfless people I've met and I am happy he teaches at my school.
• Delanie Doyle. She seems to be one person who always is nice to me, even when I shove her into a brick wall, or embarrass her in front of everyone, or any of the other things she accuses me of doing(long stories for all of those). She is a great example of love.
• Brennan Burnett. He and I share a radio show on KPGR 88.1 FM Wednesdays 3:30-4:30. Although we don't always see eye to eye, our show is one thing I always look forward to.
• You. I love people who read my blog and give me feedback. It is what I want to do for my career, so please feel free to read and love.
• I really appreciate so many people, it would be hard to write about them all. So if their is someone not on this list that I know, chances are I am grateful for them.

That is just a fragment of what I am grateful for. Please, think of what you are grateful for every day of every year. It makes all the difference in the world.

I think I will be posting more tonight after I post this. I really want to write more, I just haven't the time.

You're your mom's favorite!

Because all I that is happening in my life is school, I decided to share some of my favorite things. Here you go:

My favorite smell is Barnes and Noble. I love the smell of books. I could literally live in the Orem B&N. I can't get enough.

My favorite color is red. I love the power that it has. I'm not a Nazi. Or a communist.

My favorite day of the week is Sunday. I can always look forward to it as a day where I can relax (even though I end up doing more church stuff than I intended, which results in me being in my suit for eight hours straight).

My favorite TV show is Psych. It is so choice. Just to let you know, I watched about 4 hours of it yesterday, then Keven Carlson and I made Psych shirts. He kept telling me I was acting like Shawn.
My favorite things to do are writing and hiking. I could really hike for years and write longer. If it weren't for school and other responsibilities, that is all I would do.

My favorite place to be is in the mountains. I totally understand why prophets of old used mountains as temples. Going into the mountain wilderness is a sure way of feeling the spirit.

My favorite feeling is accomplishment. I love finishing a school assignment or a project I'm working on and having that feeling of relieve and happiness.

My favorite book in the standard works is the Doctrine and Covenants. I love learning the gospel and reading about Joseph Smith and other modern day prophets. I love so many scriptures in D&C.

My favorite thought is thinking about my future wife. She is somewhere right now, having all the guys hit on her (because she is obviously amazingly beautiful). I love thinking about where she is on her journey and I love being worried about how she is doing. She better stay on the straight and narrow. I love her so much.

My favorite food is meat. One time at scout camp, Taft and I went to get meat with our leaders and we saw George Lucas there. True story.

Basically my favorite animal is a liger.

My favorite film and novel are non-existent because I love too many to choose.

My favorite time of year is the end of the school year. You don't  realize how stifled you are until you get out.

My favorite thing ever is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I think that if you aren't Mormon, you should read this.

My heroes are my brothers and my father. All of them have gone on missions, which doesn't happen often. I hope someday I can be as great of men as they are.

So there is a butt load of information about me. If you have any questions, deal with it. Haha, I'm joking. Ask already.

Taft, Trevor and Wyatt: Dating Professionals

So life goals complete. Three goals, to be exact. First, I triple dated with two of my best friends. Second, we did the thing we wanted to do as a date for as long as we considered dating. Third, I got to go on a date with one of the most beautiful friends I have, Kellee Walker.

Goal #1:

Taft, Trevor and I have been friends for a while. We started talking about dating about a year ago. Taft was about to turn 16 and Trevor and I were following. We talked about tripling. Then Taft's dad lost his job (or something like that). I was so scared of losing one of my best friends. He already had a house to live in in Idaho. Trevor and I decided to plan road trips up there just to hang out with him. He was going to leave at the end of the year, just before my 16th. It would suck. But then we were in the clear. His dad got a job. It almost did not happen, but it did.

Goal #2:

We went to one of the most peaceful places in the world. Among the giant mountains, there is one place that is almost always perfect: Indian Springs. With that terrific tasting aquifer, the wonderful songs frogs flying around, and the relaxing wind. It is the best place to be and I love going up there. Many prophets of old went into the mountains to speak to God, which I totally understand. It is amazing and being with my best friends and some great, virtuous young women. I love that place so much.

Goal #3:

Every since 7th grade, there has been a great daughter of God who has affected my life greatly. That young woman is Kellee Walker. She is a great woman, and I got the pleasure of going up to the best place in the world with her. It was a blast, holey pants and all. Thanks for running with me. You're the best.



And... pictures:

Here's a bad idea, take a close up of my face. Thanks, Taft.

Taft and Mattie on the way up.

The stunning Kellee Walker.

Sitting on the dead man's bench, right before we called Pablo Blaqk.

My face later went into a hole.

A really cute picture if you cover the left half.

Blinking on purpose just to keep my arm there. Such a stud.

Trevor and Makenzi Richards.

Mattie appears to be floating. It's no big deal.

Not too sure why they did this, I think they thought it smelled like a vegetable.

Blinking on purpose again. Such a stud.

Looking good.

This is why you never give me a camera. Ha

See above for details.

They aren't getting married. But the do look kind of cute.

Indian Springs is so stunningly beautiful.

Ti chi. 

The whole lot.

The good looking half.

The stooges.

Afterwards at Yogurt Bliss.

I may or may not have gotten dirt all over the whitest couch known to man.