Adorable!

Commitment is a Good Thing

After much searching and deliberation I have decided to commit. Good things can come from commitment. I remember being in a singles ward once and this guy got up to bear his testimony. His testimony was that every good thing in his life has happened since he began committing to good things. He talked about how grateful he was that he had decided to make the commitment to be baptized and serve a mission. He talked about the associated blessings that came from both. He also talked about the commitment he made to go to school and the good things that had come into his life after graduation. Finally He made reference to the need we have to make commitments in relationships. I think it is usually taboo to talk about the “M word” over the pulpit in a singles ward but he pulled it off quite nicely. It takes a strong man to do that.

Well I may not be anywhere close to that kind of commitment but I have committed to buying a townhome. I am excited to make this commitment. How often can you say that? Everything has just come together so perfectly in this whole process so far. I hope it will continue to. If all goes well I should be closing June 25th. I am looking for a good roommate, so let me know if you know of someone needing a place to live. Sorry fellas, I have had a few offers but ladies only!

Here are some pictures of the big commitment…

SL 2009 half

I ran the SL half again this year and just incase you didn't believe that I did it, I have a few pictures. A BIG Thanks to my dear friends Brooke and Whit who came to cheer me on, took some photos and brought me a treat at the finish line. Also to my brother Moe, DJ and Julian who came out to show support.

I had my mission reunion last week. It was a good experience although I was sad that I didn’t get to see some of the sisters like Jerelyn, Krisha, or Shelly. What were you gals up to? I did get to see Sister Clawson who I got to know in the MTC, and Sisters Turner and Andrus although we didn’t take a picture together. Hopefully I will get a copy of the group shot from someone. President Wondra and his wife spoke to us. They both had very interesting things to say. Sister Wondra mostly talked about the love of Christ and how if we read the Book of Mormon we need to gain a sense of the love of Christ through this book. She said that she is now teaching a Book of Mormon institute class, I assume in Vienna.

President Wondra talked a bit about how the saints in the areas that we labored need to realize that they need to stay in their native countries to build up the church there. He said that too many of the converts are leaving to come to the states and they are not returning. He said that he was once tempted to move to Salt Lake. He said that he was getting a tour of Salt Lake from the missionary who baptized him. He was showing him where a few of the apostles lived. There was a house for sale next to an apostle’s home. He said that he thought about how he could sell his two homes in Vienna and buy this house. He imagined that he would go out to get the paper in the driveway and see this apostle and then tell him that his wife had just finished making breakfast and that he would love to have him over. Then he realized that the church needed him where he was at.

He also spoke about the love of Christ. He said that as members of this church we need to feel this love, and we need to extend this to others.

There was a woman there from Bosnia and she asked if there were any plans for the gospel to be preached in Bosnia. President Wondra said that they had plans to open up Bosnia for teaching the gospel. When they were working to move the work forward, there were air strikes and the plans had to be postponed. He said that this isn't war against the Bosnian people it is war against the Priesthood of God. Last time we meet he talked about the challenges in Serbia. He said that right after the full translation of the Book of Mormon was complete, and the first shipment was delivered, there were air strikes and everyone had to be pulled out of Serbia. There is a strong force working to keep the gospel from these people.

I saw Elder Murdock who I haven’t seen in ages and he was up to his old antics. This is him with his wife when he was supposed to be taking a picture of me and Clawson.

Ever since my niece Luna was born, her mother likes to tell me that she looks more like me than her. It has been an ongoing joke in our family. Well the myth has been perpetuated. There was a luncheon after Cate and Tyler’s sealing and Cate had a friend take some photos. Somehow the photographer thought that I was Luna’s mother and she took some mother daughter pictures of us. What do you think? Does she really look that much like me? Here is the real mother daughter shot that I took.

Cate, Tyler and Ian

My sister Cate was sealed to her husband, Tyler and son, Ian this weekend. I was able to fly up last weekend to be with her. I might normally take time to complain about the 50 degree temperature difference, but it was all worth the experience. Cate put me to work once I got out there and I came back exhausted. The night before the sealing, I was up till 2:00 am cutting up fruit. I need a vacation for my vacation. When I looked at how much work she put into everything I told her that when I got married I was going to elope. She didn't like that idea so much and she said, "YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ELOPE! I am going to be there to help you." Is it just me, or was she sounding a little like my mother? ;) Ian is getting to be quite the little man. He has learned to walk and dance. When he dances he doesn't bounce like most kids, he taps his feet to the beat of the music. I love that kid to death. Congrats to you! Here is some proof of Ian's dancing.

A Lovely Reminder

Don’t leave valuables in your car! Over the weekend someone got into my car and probably took everything out of my car that didn’t have much value. I don’t really understand what the thieves were thinking but in my mind the things that I thought they would go for remained intact. It was almost like they were trying to do me a favor and clean all the junk out of my car. Things like my stereo, new car vacuum, new air compressor and rollerblades. They seemed to browse my CDs and probably take one or two of them. They took some reusable Harmon’s grocery bags, sunglasses, sunglasses holder, some pamphlets and my sun shade. They seemed to be searching for cash because they took out my ash tray and cup holder and didn’t quite put them back right. Then they left the $2 in quarters that I had in a compartment that they must not have checked.

I should probably feel really violated but after it all I am just grateful that I don’t have to replace anything that is going to cost much to replace. Everything I need to replace is probably going to cost me $45 or so. Not bad considering the last time my car was broken into it was $300 to get the car fixed, $200 for a new stereo, and $100 in CDs. In comparison this is quite pleasant really. Tonight I will be removing those things from my car that I deem valuable.