Church

I wake up at 8:00. I get to church by 8:30. I set up chairs in the Cultural Hall, the Relief Society room, and the Primary Room. I then go sit on the stand and get ready to bless the sacrament. Sacrament meeting ends and I grab my Bible, Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants, Preach My Gospel, Duty to God, For the Strength of Youth, Study Journal and True to the Faith, then head to class. I sit in Sunday school, trying to listen to Cecil, hearing the jabber mouth of my class, and ignoring the girl who hates me. I go to Priests quorum. I listen to whoever is speaking and punch Taft. For some reason I always write on the board as a scribe (Probably because Aaron McArthur can't write legibly). I go do my assignments, then I go home. On 2nd and 4th Sundays I stay in my church clothes until 3:00, waiting for Mission Prep. Class.

That is my regular schedule. When it comes to my place in my ward, I am the goofball. You know Sokka from Avatar? I'm similar to him. I am hardly taken seriously by anyone in the youth organization. Today was strange.

Two weeks ago we decided to come up with ideas for Youth Conference and we needed someone to go to the planning meeting in two weeks (today). I volunteered. Everyone said I was too silly and we needed someone serious, but no one really changed the plan. So today I went to the meeting. It involved one youth and one leader from each group participating (Priests, Teachers, Miamaids, and Laurels) and a few of the bishopric members. I walked and arrived early. I realized that I, a representative of the Priests, would be conducting the entire planning meeting.

We started and I conducted. I can say without a doubt that I totally messed up in the first sentence. Then it went perfect. We had a great meeting. I saw my leader, Brother Cloward, nod his head after many things I said. As a council, we found our theme and a scripture: "Go Forward With Faith" 2 Nephi 31:20. We made a plan. I took the reins and I rocked it. I don't often let myself feel good about my accomplishments, but I really aced it. It feels good to feel proud of my actions. 

It feels better to be taken seriously.

Great Date

Have you ever been in a group of people that just fit together? You all like the same things, you all have the same morals, etc? Well, I went on a date with a group like that. It was fun. I doubled with Mr. N.C. Church and had the pleasure of taking Miss Maren Parsons.
It almost did not happen. Nate wanted to double with me on Friday night, but I had work. It was a close call. The last person I asked to cover my shift answered me at 12:30 the night before. I asked Maren the morning of and we had a date. Like I said, close call.
Nate and I had a great plan. We told the girls church clothes for our dinner date, we were going to a prestigious restaurant in downtown PG. That restaurant was Taco Amigo. Nate and I brought a bunch of fancy dinnerware, I made menus, and we even got someone to table side serve us. It took a bit of prepping, but it was definitely worth it.

Nate took the ever lovely Miss Nelson.

We talked about Psych and quoted it the whole night long.

Isn't she a beaut?

 After dinner we went to a park and played boardgames. The best part was that we all just got along so well. It was one of the best dates of my life just because it was so simple. When you have bad standards, you have second hand experiences. When you stick by your morals (and surround yourself with those who do likewise), you will have moments you cherish for the whole of your life.

Fleet Foxes

I saw all this. Live from 30 feet away.

It has been too long.

Here we are again, me writing, you reading. We have been here before and we will come here again. It is a great place.

I haven't the time nor the urge (when I had the time) to write, but it is my duty as an author to write. So here is how my week was:

• Work. Lots of work. I am now an employee at tamsolutions. I work with my brother, Brock, and he basically runs my life. He doesn't like it. No one really does.
• Summer Seminary. I went and I sat next to Emilee Keele and near Kirsten Marquis. Brother Ellison taught about Leviticus, the most boring book ever. He made me see it in a new light.
• I got in a punching war with Brother Hillhouse. Nothing too unique.
• Saw Thor for the first time. Very cool. Something that is not cool is spelling "cool" with a "k."
• Gave Brock $50.00 for insurance for a product I do not own. The iPhone 4 will soon be mine. I hate when people say "45$." How can you pass the first grade with such a lack of common knowledge?
• I went to my niece's birthday party.
• I went to a Decemberists concert. Not that great.
• I went to a Fleet Foxes concert. It was the best.
• I watch enough Doctor Who to span at least one year. That show is really great, you know? If you have not seen it, Netflix it up.

So that was my week. People wonder why I am so busy. Just kidding, no one really cares. They have their own lives to run.

Greatest Fear.

Greatest Fear

I am proud to say that I am very brave (at least in past circumstances I have proven myself). I believe that, if needs be, I could do anything. If the situation was grave enough, I would be victorious. But I am not fearless. I submit to you my greatest fear: I fear that those I love and care deeply about don't care about me, or worse yet, dislike me. I am afraid that my friends who I would die for think of me as next to nothing. I fear that my best is not good enough. I fear I am a nuisance. I always think it and I hate it. I don't know if I'm anything worth caring for.

But then I remember someone, the greatest person ever to love. I remember our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He loves me. He knows who I am and still, He loves me. He rejoices when I make good choices, even when I am alone. When I make bad choices, He waits with open arms of forgiveness. No matter the problems in my life, He and my Father in Heaven will support me.

Jesus, my older brother, loves me enough that He died so I may be eternally happy. He suffered pain and scorn because He knew it would be worth doing. And He did not do this just for me. He did this for my friends, my neighbors, everyone who has been on this earth or will be on this earth. He is our shepherd, the voice in the dark, calling us to the light. He did so much for us because He loves us. He loves me.

So from now on, if you ever wonder, Am I good enough?, just remember, He knows you are and no one else can even compare.