Catch up: Ashland!

Since Sister Woods is gonna help me slurp this thing into a book in a few months, I want to record a few things that happened earlier in the year. The first week of July, Auntie Mel and I went to Ashland, Oregon for the Shakespeare Festival-- our favorite! Aunt Mel is a UCLA grad in English. I love that we share a love for literature and I find myself calling her on occasion to specifically discuss a recent book I've read. She is so awesome! Anyhow, Ashland was lovely. Here's a few photos:

Such a cute town. Flowers everywhere!

Lithia Water

I love bridges.

This was so much fun.

The first play we saw: "Don Quixote."

You know the movie "River Wild"? It was filmed here.

Lately

"Lately" has been fast paced and jam packed! Halloween was great. We went to Christine's house in Highland and hung out for a little bit before we took off for a dance in the area. It's hard to tell in these photos because we weren't fully in uniform yet, but we were spies. Take my word for it.

Getting ready. And no, that's not our apartment. We keep it cleaner than that :)

Us with our friend Jeff.

Hot mamas. They'd never admit it, so I'll spill the beans for them :)

Our friend Brad. He ran the Provo half marathon earlier that morning and that skull shirt is from the race. I thought it was cool.

We had fun!

Sunday night Natalie, Christine and I stayed up 'til midnight waiting to be able to register for classes. True to form, I have already begun to plan how I will re-work the schedule I've currently got (three english classes, one sociology, and one religion), although it is exactly what I hoped for when I signed up three days ago. Go figure. I'll be sure to blog about my schedule once it's set in stone. Throughout that evening Natalie went around with this sticky hand thing and kept shocking me by grabbing my papers with it. She had a way of striking when I was deep in thought, head down, buried in what I was reading. Suddenly, a jelly-like green hand jump in front of me and snap me out of focus. It was awesome! Glad she could mix up an otherwise stuffy and stressful process.

There she is. And there IT is. Guilty as charged :)

Monday night was good fun. Our ward went to Seven Peaks to play some broom ball hockey.

Catch up: Conference Weekend

I know I'm late with this post, but I've been looking forward to sneaking it in...

Conference weekend was wonderful! My family came to visit and we were able to attend both morning sessions. We also went to the BYU/USU game and moseyed around beautiful Park City.

Park City

Me and Trav with the Stripling Warriors

Having dinner with our friends the Meyers in SLC-- Mom's missing from this shot

In the Conference Center, Saturday Morning Session

Brandon the Cougar

Ran into some of our Chico friends in the cougar eat

GO COUGS!

The Ysasagas, minus Mady and I

I love to see the temple. I took this from the car Saturday morning when it was raining.

Some of the main ideas (at least, some of the things I wrote down) from talks I loved:

Richard G. Scott: We can increase our capacity to be guided by the spirit. Write down impressions when you receive them.

Russell Oscguthorpe: Learning and teaching are not optional activities in the kingdom of God.

David A. Bednar: What we know is not always reflected in what we do. "I love you": we need to say it, mean it, and consistently show it.

Deiter F. Uchtdorf: Love should be the center of everything we do.

Russell M. Nelson: The Lord's offer is generous: ask, seek, knock, and it shall be given.

President Thomas S. Monson: Love (the verb form, mostly). :) And let me just add that every time he speaks, I always feel his love for the Lord, for the gospel, and for me.

Jeffrey R. Holland: The Book of Mormon is true. Easily the most powerful oral witness I have ever heard of this book.

Well, there's lots more that I loved, but these were some of my take-home points. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and I am grateful for modern day revelation. I was talking with my roommate Christine the other night, and we were talking about the truthfulness of the gospel when she said something that really struck me. She said that even if the gospel wasn't true (which, we both fully believe it is), she still knows that it is what makes her the most happy, and that makes it worth living.. I also know that living the gospel is what makes me most happy. But I also believe that it is true. And I say it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Full Archive of the 179th Semiannual General Conference:

http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-1117,00.html

Made My Day

On Saturday (yesterday) I was on campus to study for a few hours in the library. I first had to run an errand in the WILK, and upon finishing I headed for the west-side doors that leave out towards the library. There was some sort of boy scout convention going in the WILK, and as I approached the building's doors a short red-headed boy scout (he looked about 11 or 12 years old) had already made his way through the doors, entering the building. We were about to pass each other headed in opposite directions when he realized I was headed for the doors. So, he turned around and proceeded to open them for me. It may have been simple, but his caring act made my day! I hope I can raise my future sons to be like that.

Fashionably Early

It's that time again! Mother Nature delightfully delivered BYU its first snow of the year today. As one who has little tolerance for all falling elements save rain, but taking into account the splendor of snow drizzled mountains, I consider this year's snow "fashionably early." It was light, but it was pretty.

On Friday I received a package from home filled with some of my very favorite things. Mom and dad wanted to help me get into the Fall/Halloween spirit. Would you check out those gloves? And the Redken Smooth Down? Mom knows me so well! This surprise package was such a thrill. My parents are so thoughtful and wonderful. They are the best. Thanks, you two!