I've gotten a number of questions from you all about school, so I'll stop holding out and give an update. Bear in mind, today is only my 3rd day of class. Thursdays will be my longest day of the week, class-wise, but I think maybe my favorite days, because of the content. But don't quote me on that just yet.
Orientation was 4 days long last week and it was EXHAUSTING. We even had a case study competition, where we had to break into groups, prepare a case study, and present it. During orientation!! But there was lots of good information, and I had a chance to get to know my classmates. There is some serious diversity in my class and I love it! We have representation from India, Vietnam, Nepal, Dubai, Honduras, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and then some.
My theme so far seems to be, "I'm not at BYU anymore!" I keep getting hit with the culture shock of people taking smoke breaks after class, the ladies dressed scandalously, and the teachers randomly cursing in class. And the "cultural thursdays" where everyone goes to happy hour after class. Weird!! But that's all aside from the culture shock of being a student and not knowing what I'm doing. I used to be a pro at this! Not anymore. It's very disorienting.
All that being said, I'm very happy to be here. There's still a lot of transitioning I've yet to do, but I'm going to enjoy it. So far, it's not as ridiculously hard as everyone kept warning us it'd be, but I'm sure that will change. I can tell that I'm definitely going to enjoy the subjects, for the most part. I found out on the first day of my stats class that I could waive it since I'd already taken so much of it. This was unfortunate because I really liked the teacher and was looking forward to working with him. Then I found out that he's probably going to have me be his assistant for the class next year, so I'll get to work with him anyway! (Yay for employment!) I guess they don't get that many stats gurus around here.
One other cool thing that happened today is that the admissions guy (the one I called about a dozen times before I decided to go full-time) asked me to be an ambassador, which means I'd get to host visitors on campus and go to orientation sessions/dinners to give prospective students and other inquiring minds a perspective from a current student. Not a major time commitment, but I get $500 out of it each semester, which is a lot more money than it used to be!
That is all. I'm about to go check out the pool they've got here. Dad, I'm still not running, because of my ankle. It is making me insane.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Light of Christ
So Jason and I were finally asked to speak in church, and it couldn't be more perfect timing because Leslie and Alex will be visiting us and can sit with the kids.
Anyway, our ward topic is "Enduring to the End," but I think every talk I've heard for the last 3 weeks has been about that, so he told us that the stake topic is "The Light of Christ."
I'm starting to get worried, like I always do about having to speak in church. I don't think it's as bad as it was last time, so that's good.
I was just reading an article called Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light by Elder Hales. There was something in there that just seemed so incredible to me, so I wanted to share.
Like I said, pretty incredible, huh? Very applicable to our lives.
Also...if anyone happens to have any stories about the Light of Christ that they'd like to share, I would be very appreciative. :)
Anyway, our ward topic is "Enduring to the End," but I think every talk I've heard for the last 3 weeks has been about that, so he told us that the stake topic is "The Light of Christ."
I'm starting to get worried, like I always do about having to speak in church. I don't think it's as bad as it was last time, so that's good.
I was just reading an article called Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light by Elder Hales. There was something in there that just seemed so incredible to me, so I wanted to share.
When I was a boy, I used to ride my bicycle home from basketball practice at night. I would connect a small pear-shaped generator to my bicycle tire. Then as I pedaled, the tire would turn a tiny rotor, which produced electricity and emitted a single, welcome beam of light. It was a simple but effective mechanism. But I had to pedal to make it work! I learned quickly that if I stopped pedaling my bicycle, the light would go out. I also learned that when I was “anxiously engaged” 17 in pedaling, the light would become brighter and the darkness in front of me would be dispelled.(I added the bold.)
The generation of spiritual light comes from daily spiritual pedaling. It comes from praying, studying the scriptures, fasting, and serving—from living the gospel and obeying the commandments. “He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light,” 18 said the Lord, “and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” 19 My brothers and sisters, that perfect day will be when we will stand in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Sometimes people ask, “Why do I have to go to sacrament meeting?” or “Why do I have to live the Word of Wisdom, pay tithing? Why can’t I have one foot in Babylon?” May I tell you why? Because spiritual pedaling takes both feet! Unless you are fully engaged in living the gospel—living it with all of your “heart, might, mind and strength” 20—you cannot generate enough spiritual light to push back the darkness.
And in this world, the darkness is never far away. In fact, it is always just around the corner, waiting for an opportunity to come in. “If thou doest not well,” the Lord said, “sin lieth at the door.” 21
It is as predictable as any physical law: if we let the light of the Spirit flicker or fade by failing to keep the commandments or by not partaking of the sacrament or praying or studying the scriptures, the darkness of the adversary will surely come in. “That wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience.” 22
In the scriptures we read that some individuals “grope in the dark without light” and “stagger like a drunken man.” 23 Stumbling along, we may become accustomed to the dimness of our surroundings and forget how glorious it is to walk in the light.
Like I said, pretty incredible, huh? Very applicable to our lives.
Also...if anyone happens to have any stories about the Light of Christ that they'd like to share, I would be very appreciative. :)
Monday, August 25, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Happy Birthday to My Brown Eyed Girl
To be completely honest her eyes aren't really brown. They're more of a hazel but nobody wrote a song called My Hazel Eyed Girl. Believe me if I had the soul of a song writer it would the first song I'd write.
Sometimes it feels like when I want to write something really special about someone really special the words escape me. In this case I guess the reason is that I don't feel like there are any words sufficient to fully explain how amazing Crystal really is. She's been through more tough times than anybody I know and yet she maintains a faith, hope and positive outlook the likes of which I've never seen. I am truly the lucky one because she really is my brown eyed girl.
Happy Birthday Crystal. I hope you have many happy birthday's to come.
By the way the top picture is of her belly at 32 weeks pregnant. The funny thing is it was taken on her 32nd birthday;-)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
More baby updates - Cole
Cole went to the doctor today and he has gained 1 pound and 2 ounces already and has grown an inch. He will be chubby in no time at this rate! We are having a good time with Mom here. Wish Dad would have been able to come too. Here are a few pictures from the Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals game today. It has been so great to have Mom here with us. I am already getting nervous for her to leave.
It's a Girl!!
Well, there is going to be a lot of estrogen flowing at our house...we went to the ultrasound today and found out that we are having another girl!! I was really hoping for a boy so Elliot could have a brother, but now I am wondering how I could've ever not wanted a girl! When I told Grace, she said, "not again!". I think she was a little confused because she said, "can I sit by my new baby sister in the car?". I must be superwoman, having a baby and being back to pick her up in 1 hour!! But we are really excited, I'm going to have to shop for all new girl clothes, I'm really sad about that :) (Grace and Maggie were born in the spring). Ray and Elliot will get to spend lots of father-son time together. I was thinking about it and I decided that there need to be more girls born in this world with dads like Ray, so it is just fine that we are having 3 girls :)
She was not shy at all, her gender was discovered in the first 3 seconds!!
This is her profile, she has her hand in her mouth :)
This is a shot of her alien baby face :)I think we have a name figured out, but any suggestions? First and middle?!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Weekly Poll Question - The olympics
I thought this week I would bring my poll question to the Family Blog. Seeing as we are in the middle of the olympics, My poll question has to do with your most favorite off the beaten path event in the olympics. We have like 8 different channels that have olympics on them. Including a couple chinese stations. Where I have been able to watch hours of my two favorite abstract olympic sports, Badmitton and Ping Pong, I mean Table Tennis. It is a toss up to me which is my favorite. But the furvor of the chinese womens ping pong team pushed them in the lead. Every time Zhang Yining scores a point she raises her fist and yells as she goes to get the ping pong ball. Awesome. So share your favorite abstract sport.
Jason
Jason
Sunday, August 17, 2008
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