Facebook addicting as heck. Its like anydrug. I swore I woulnt be one of those people that gets on every day. Now I feel weird after a few hours wondring what's going on. My phone giving me constant access doesn't help either. Soon after I got home I kept feeling like I was too connected with the world and knew too much about what everyones doing. Now I feel weird if I don't know. In fact I started a blog cause apparently I don't feel people have enough access to me. (Cause it's be pretty dificult for the 8 of you to find out whats new, rigt?) btw, how do i get more followers?
I wonder if people being too connected and wired in (think social network) will somehow lead to health problems we can't foursee currently. Like thumb joint problems. Or literal withdrawals from technology. Apready so many people lack the ability to carry on a normal conversatin in person. I knew a couple on my mission who would sit back to back and text whenever they needed to have a serious conversation. Pretty sad. I'm not about to start a an anti texting or social networking campaign (which would seem a bit ridiculious on a blog such as this) Just sayin people. be careful.
Well, I'm typing this on my phone driving to Mt. Vernon with Matt (see what i mean? Ironic, yeah?) and am starting to get car sick. Plus matts got some sick (pun intended) music i wanna listen to. So that's enough for Now.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
On this day...
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
OK, it wasn't technically this calender day but, we all get the idea. Merry Christmas!
OK, it wasn't technically this calender day but, we all get the idea. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Eve!
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Eve
It was Christmas time in the Bavarian Alps in 1937. I have always loved Christmas. There is a special spirit about it. The chill in the winter air is the perfect counterpoint to the warmth that should fill our hearts as we contemplate the message of salvation found in the birth, and life, and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.
I experienced that warmth many years ago while serving as a missionary for the Church just prior to the outbreak of World War II. As you might expect, the possibility of armed conflict was very intense. But, as Christmas approached, our thoughts were drawn to the Savior. We rejoiced in the privilege of serving Him during that sacred season in the famous city of Salzburg, Austria.
On Christmas Eve, Elder Staker Olson and I visited the village of Oberndorf, nestled securely in the beautiful Bavarian Alps. It was a crisp, clear winter night. We walked under a canopy of stars, across the smooth stillness of new-fallen snow to a humble little church where a familiar melody beckoned with its message of hope and peace. Inside, a choir was singing in German a carol that brought warmth to our hearts on that cold winter night. Though we were far from our homes and families, we were filled with our Heavenly Father's love and comforted by His Spirit as we listened to the calming strains of "Silent Night! Holy Night!"
Perhaps it was like the night that more than a century earlier inspired the assistant pastor in that quaint village to write the words to one of the most beloved hymns in all of Christendom. In 1818, Joseph Mohr was walking in the mountains above Oberndorf when he was overcome with the sublime beauty that surrounded him: The towering, majestic mountains; the brilliance of the stars in the sky; the shimmering glow of moonlight reflected on snow-covered hills and valleys; and the warm, welcoming lights of the village.
The setting provided inspiration for the new hymn Joseph Mohr was writing for Christmas services the next day. As he made his way homeward, words and phrases came together in his mind:
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace;
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth;
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Joseph Mohr took his words to Franz Gruber, the church organist. Since the church's organ was broken, Gruber had to compose music for the new hymn on his guitar. But the tune came easily, and the next day "Silent Night" had its first performance in that unique little church. Sung by its creators to Gruber's guitar accompaniment, it probably sounded a little different from the full, rich, harmonious version we sing today. But the message was the same.
As we listened to the choir's harmony while standing in the very same church where the first rendition of this sacred song was sung, we were spiritually moved. We were filled with the true spirit of Christmas.
As we left Oberndorf and walked about fifteen miles to our humble lodgings in old Salzburg, we spoke of life more confidently. Our goals and aspirations were clear, and we were both focused as to our direction in life.
Much of our conversation centered on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We felt closer to Him that Christmas Eve. As we savored that sense of God's love for us, we also felt an outpouring of His love toward all mankind. Even with the threat of war hanging heavily over Austria and the rest of the world, for one night, at least, "all [was] calm, all [was] bright." It was, truly, a "holy night," a Christmas that we will never forget.
I love and miss Elder Wirthlin. A couple of his talks literally changed my life, and I'm grateful for that.
I experienced that warmth many years ago while serving as a missionary for the Church just prior to the outbreak of World War II. As you might expect, the possibility of armed conflict was very intense. But, as Christmas approached, our thoughts were drawn to the Savior. We rejoiced in the privilege of serving Him during that sacred season in the famous city of Salzburg, Austria.
On Christmas Eve, Elder Staker Olson and I visited the village of Oberndorf, nestled securely in the beautiful Bavarian Alps. It was a crisp, clear winter night. We walked under a canopy of stars, across the smooth stillness of new-fallen snow to a humble little church where a familiar melody beckoned with its message of hope and peace. Inside, a choir was singing in German a carol that brought warmth to our hearts on that cold winter night. Though we were far from our homes and families, we were filled with our Heavenly Father's love and comforted by His Spirit as we listened to the calming strains of "Silent Night! Holy Night!"
Perhaps it was like the night that more than a century earlier inspired the assistant pastor in that quaint village to write the words to one of the most beloved hymns in all of Christendom. In 1818, Joseph Mohr was walking in the mountains above Oberndorf when he was overcome with the sublime beauty that surrounded him: The towering, majestic mountains; the brilliance of the stars in the sky; the shimmering glow of moonlight reflected on snow-covered hills and valleys; and the warm, welcoming lights of the village.
The setting provided inspiration for the new hymn Joseph Mohr was writing for Christmas services the next day. As he made his way homeward, words and phrases came together in his mind:
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace;
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth;
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Joseph Mohr took his words to Franz Gruber, the church organist. Since the church's organ was broken, Gruber had to compose music for the new hymn on his guitar. But the tune came easily, and the next day "Silent Night" had its first performance in that unique little church. Sung by its creators to Gruber's guitar accompaniment, it probably sounded a little different from the full, rich, harmonious version we sing today. But the message was the same.
As we listened to the choir's harmony while standing in the very same church where the first rendition of this sacred song was sung, we were spiritually moved. We were filled with the true spirit of Christmas.
As we left Oberndorf and walked about fifteen miles to our humble lodgings in old Salzburg, we spoke of life more confidently. Our goals and aspirations were clear, and we were both focused as to our direction in life.
Much of our conversation centered on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We felt closer to Him that Christmas Eve. As we savored that sense of God's love for us, we also felt an outpouring of His love toward all mankind. Even with the threat of war hanging heavily over Austria and the rest of the world, for one night, at least, "all [was] calm, all [was] bright." It was, truly, a "holy night," a Christmas that we will never forget.
I love and miss Elder Wirthlin. A couple of his talks literally changed my life, and I'm grateful for that.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Can't sleep
I'm horribly tired but every time I go to lay down I can't fall asleep. So I got up and started reading the First Presidency's talks in the Christmas Devotional. President Eyring's has particularly got my attention currently.
"As Latter-day Saints, we feel our hearts drawn out in gratitude to a loving Father and His Beloved Son. We are thankful to feel that blessing because of the faith of a 14-year-old boy, Joseph Smith. His prayer on a spring morning in 1820 made possible our receiving the sure witness that the Father, the great Elohim, and His Son, Jehovah, live and love us. They appeared and spoke with him in the full light of day. They called him by name.
"The gift of that glorious assurance that we are known and loved can sustain us in the trials life will surely bring. We need never feel that we are alone. We need never give up hope."
They did call Joseph by name. They knew who he was. Just like they know us.
Not that being actually home and with family isn't great and all, but I miss being a missionary right now. I loved being able to focus on, and do something so important and pertinent to what matters. If that late night (early morning) rant makes sense.
"As Latter-day Saints, we feel our hearts drawn out in gratitude to a loving Father and His Beloved Son. We are thankful to feel that blessing because of the faith of a 14-year-old boy, Joseph Smith. His prayer on a spring morning in 1820 made possible our receiving the sure witness that the Father, the great Elohim, and His Son, Jehovah, live and love us. They appeared and spoke with him in the full light of day. They called him by name.
"The gift of that glorious assurance that we are known and loved can sustain us in the trials life will surely bring. We need never feel that we are alone. We need never give up hope."
They did call Joseph by name. They knew who he was. Just like they know us.
Not that being actually home and with family isn't great and all, but I miss being a missionary right now. I loved being able to focus on, and do something so important and pertinent to what matters. If that late night (early morning) rant makes sense.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
"You just have bad luck."
So, as I alluded to a couple posts ago, I tend to have bad luck... don't get me wrong, I have a great life and have been blessed a ton. But occasionally (more then most people) various events that could only happen to me, will happen. Some of them are no big deal and happen to anyone. We've all had stitches, or been in a car wreck. Some of them really aren't that unicque. It's the frequency they occur, the randomness, and sometimes the severity of the situations I find myself in. Such events range from little things that may just result in me being a little emberassed (like the quilt that wasn't) to bigger things that may result in me being released on bail. So, per a request, I will randomly sometimes log onto my blog and type out my recolection of some of these events. All of them will be true, and all can be verified by other people (Believe me, I can't make some of these up) and they may include but will not be limited to the following...
-The several stitches I've received
-The Bulb over my eye
-disrupting sacrament in only a way I could
-Baseball on the mini colf course
-Passing out in the hospital before surgery... behind a locked door
-My failed date (that somehow turned out good)
-Waking up a year later in a hospital
-My poor belly button
-The mother of all ant stings
-Why never to travel to Daphne Alabama
-Throwing up in a van full of people
-"I doubt Pelicans really attack people" "Yes they do.. I KNOW they do."
Anywho, tonight I went to a dinner party... it was really fun. Now I'm tired and going to bed.
-The several stitches I've received
-The Bulb over my eye
-disrupting sacrament in only a way I could
-Baseball on the mini colf course
-Passing out in the hospital before surgery... behind a locked door
-My failed date (that somehow turned out good)
-Waking up a year later in a hospital
-My poor belly button
-The mother of all ant stings
-Why never to travel to Daphne Alabama
-Throwing up in a van full of people
-"I doubt Pelicans really attack people" "Yes they do.. I KNOW they do."
Anywho, tonight I went to a dinner party... it was really fun. Now I'm tired and going to bed.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Finished.
"As Heber and David turned and headed for their tent, Heber rubbed his gloved hands together. 'What must it be like for those poor people who don't have proper clothing?'
'Unbelievable,' David murmured, hardly able to conceive facing this kind of storm when you were not properly prepared for it.
'So where are they, David?' Heber P. muttered. 'where in the world are they?'
'I don't know.' He increased his pace a little. 'But one thing is for sure. We have to find them, Heber, and find them fast.'"
I just finished my book this afternoon. I read the last 320 pages or so inn the last 24ish hours. It is an incredible book.
'Unbelievable,' David murmured, hardly able to conceive facing this kind of storm when you were not properly prepared for it.
'So where are they, David?' Heber P. muttered. 'where in the world are they?'
'I don't know.' He increased his pace a little. 'But one thing is for sure. We have to find them, Heber, and find them fast.'"
I just finished my book this afternoon. I read the last 320 pages or so inn the last 24ish hours. It is an incredible book.
Monday, December 13, 2010
My lucky streak continues
So tomorrow (actually by looking at the clock, today) at work we're having a birthday party for a lady on the housekeeping staff. A few days ago while at work one of the other women I work with comes up to me and lays what looks like (and really, by all logical thought processes at this point made me think) a quilt. So I really like the people I work with (all of them) but I've never been paired with the her. IE. We usually work with someone else, and I don't know her very well. So I write "Happy Birthday! Hope it's warm! Devin." Well, apparently it wasn't a quilt but some thing that you hang up on the wall that looks like one and has pictures on it. And some how I was supposed to know this... So tomorrow she'll open it up, be all excited, read the messages people wrote to her, and most likely laugh at what I ignorantly wrote. Add another to the list of situations only I could find myself in. So goes my life. As the 3 of you know, let's face it, I just have bad luck.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Lesson Learned...
Don't listen to the Beatles on my way to work... otherwise I'm walking around the Temple singing "Someone to love. Somebody new! Someone to love. Someone Like you!" Yep. Not a bad song. Just not the place.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Fire of the Covenant
Every night I tend to do the same things. If I'm not working, Usually some church thing (FHE or institute) or hanging out with people from church. Tonight I went to my grandparents, then went to dinner with Jason at Red Robin. Then like most other nights I'm sitting here at the computer facebooking and now I have this new hobby of blogging. As my usual, in a while I'll get bored of the computer and go read and watch Letterman before I go to bed. Letterman is mostly for the Top Ten and his monologue ("You now have to choose between being the naked body scan or getting frisked and groped... I say, hey, why not both?").
Currently I am reading Fire of the Covenant by Elder Lund. He came to the MTC when I was there and gave an awesome talk. Justin will agree if he ever decides to follow my blog. Anywho, soon after I got home I picked up the first of the Work and the Glory series. I just thought I'd read the first couple pages to get a feel of the book. Before I knew it I was sucked in. Let's be real. If only I could meet a Lydia McBride of my own, life would be perfect (maybe not). So anywho, since I've been home I read all 9 of those and then The Undaunted. I guess I enjoy reading and he's a pretty great author. That combined with my love of Church History and I'm hooked on his books.
Anyways, My Grandpa has in a book of old family things a program/pamphlet thing that came from an ancestor. It's from a reunion of the Willie Handcart Company. So, as I've been reading the book that's kind of been in the back of my mind that my family was actually there.
The title of my current read comes from a talk given by President Young. He gave 2 similiar talks that I know of in his life. The first in 1846 when The last of the Saints had been forced across the river after the Battle of Nauvoo. President Young called a meeting for the Priesthood and said: “The poor brethren and sisters, the widows and orphans, sick and destitute, are now lying on the west bank of the Mississippi, waiting for teams and wagons and means to remove them. Now is the time for labor. Let the fire of the covenant, which you made in the house of the Lord burn in your hearts like flame unquenchable.”
The second talk I'm thinking of was in 1856 when the Handcarts were stuck on the plains. "I will tell you all that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the celestial kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the Plains, and attend strictly to those things which we call temporal, or temporal duties, otherwise your faith will be in vain; the preaching you have heard will be in vain to you, and you will sink to hell, unless you attend to the things we tell you." I think the title of the book is referring to the fire that the early converts felt that led them to leave their homes, travel to a new land and push a cart across over a thousand miles. Then also I'm sure the title references those that left their new home in the dead of winter and cold to go rescue those that got stuck on the plains.
Reading President Young I think, So in other words, nothing we say in this life or the covenants we make mean anything if we aren't willing to follow up with them. Not to get weird or anything, but I'm really grateful for the early members, who did everything that brought about the Gospel and gave us the relative "luxury" and ease with which we live it today. Cause just thinking about it, that woulda sucked. I hate being cold now, when I have a warm house and bed all the time... plus a hot shower and food. I think I would have gone when the calls came, but just imagine weeks and weeks if being unbearably cold with no real relief or warmth. So, that's what I've been feeling and thinking about tonight (when I started typing I didn't know what I was gonna type about). How blessed we are to live at this time. Especially those of us that know the truth of the Restoration. We got it pretty easy. They didn't.
In other news/things of note, I sent a resume in to Congressman Matheson's office today. I'd like to work there when I move to Utah, so hopefully they'll take a look. Everyone say a prayer that they'll recognize me for the awesome and capable individual that I am. I really like Congressman Matheson and it would be great to work in a Congressional Distrist office again. Also, congrats to Brittany for becoming my newest follower. I'm sure the other 2 of you welcome her too. Pretty exclusive club we've got here. I'm off to watch Letterman.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
"Every thought that tumbles through your head is so clever it would be a crime for it not to be shared."
So that's why I decided to blog. I thought every few days or so (again, no promises) I'll just get on here and let the world know my thoughts. So the (apparently) 2 of you who read this should be excited.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Blogging?
I've decided to start a blog. It kind of came up on my way home tonight, I thought to myself "Yeah, I'll do that" So here I am. Truth be known I've been thinking about starting one. So, now's the time. Props to Stephanie for telling me to. A while ago nonetheless. Also a shout out to Ian for becoming my first "follower".
Anywho, this blog will pry remain pretty basic. A few reasons for this. One is I don't know how to spiff it up. So you're pry just gonna get mostly words and not a lot of pictures and pretty things out of me. Sorry for those expecting more. Two, is that if I have to go to a ton of effort every time I blog and make it all nice and such, let's be honest, I'll never blog. Three is that even if I tried to make it nice, it wouldn't turn out. I'm just not a creative person.
If I've never met you, don't feel shame for your blog creepin'. Let's admit, we all do it. Usually through facebook though. Just don't actually stalk me.
This will pry just end up being a random hodge podge of my thoughts on life and such. I promise nothing. So, Enjoy!
Anywho, this blog will pry remain pretty basic. A few reasons for this. One is I don't know how to spiff it up. So you're pry just gonna get mostly words and not a lot of pictures and pretty things out of me. Sorry for those expecting more. Two, is that if I have to go to a ton of effort every time I blog and make it all nice and such, let's be honest, I'll never blog. Three is that even if I tried to make it nice, it wouldn't turn out. I'm just not a creative person.
If I've never met you, don't feel shame for your blog creepin'. Let's admit, we all do it. Usually through facebook though. Just don't actually stalk me.
This will pry just end up being a random hodge podge of my thoughts on life and such. I promise nothing. So, Enjoy!
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