I'm not bored.

I've tried to start a blog post probably 4 times in the last week or two, but I get to this point, and nothing happens. I'll put a title and then write a few words, and then realize that...I don't actually have anything to say.

That's probably the case with most of my blog posts, but instead of stopping and finding something useful to do, I just keep talking. Typing. Blogging. Whatever.

So, this post is just to let you know that I'm not bored. I'm...blogging. How could I be bored? Heheh...

Well, at least I'm not as bored as Jeffrey.

Word.

Right now I'm listening to "Out of My League" by Stephen Speaks. This is officially one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Yep.


Katie: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Joey: I would throw up in a bowl.

Sometimes I wish I were 2 years old again. Life was so simple and carefree...


So, life is good. I don't always wish I were 2. Just...sometimes. Most of my life consists of work, sleep and scripture study. So...not a bad life. It's a little repetitive sometimes. Like when I work 8 hours a day 5 days a week, and then work that same schedule for 3 months.

Okay, so basically just work is boring. I just have to find ways to keep me from going insane. I thought of one today that I'm guessing will keep me occupied for at least 2 and a half days. It's called the 8 queens puzzle. All you need is a chess board and 8 queens. You can also just draw a diagram in your notebook and draw circles on it as if they were queens. The puzzle is this: 8 queens must be placed on an 8x8 chess board so that none of them can attack any other using the standard chess queen's moves. So basically, you have to put 8 queens on the board where no two queens share the same row, column, or diagonal.

Anyway, apparently there are 12 solutions, and I figured out two of them in about 5 hours of work today. So maybe it will last me another few days before I figure out all 12.

I ate some oreos today. They were delish. Also, if anyone knows how to get an Oster blender to fit back in the original box with all the parts, I could use your help. This is more challenging than the 8 queens puzzle. Now I'm listening to Phil Collins' "You'll be in My Heart. Mmm... :)

6 weeks and 2 days left! Not that I'm counting...

I hope I can get work off this Saturday. They've been coming around asking us if we can work extra hours this week...so it might be hard to get work off, but I'm gonna try.

"My density has brought me to you." Heheh...good ol' Back to the Future. That reminds me of something. Here's your daily dose of uplifting...something. Heh. Well anyway, I thought it was funny...in a sad kind of way. :P

That's all for now folks!

...have a nice day. ;)

-Joscann

P to the S: Jack Handey is my hero: http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2008/11/24/081124sh_shouts_handey

P.S.

I ate a worm today.

13 weeks from yesterday...

I'll be in the MTC!!! How crazy is that? Like, really crazy.

Aaaaanyway, I'm pretty much stoked. Still. My stokedness hasn't really changed. If anything, it has grown. I got a sweetawesome new mission camera! That was super-exciting. I still haven't decided what to name him though. I've never been amazing at naming things. Have I said this before? It took me practically until we sold it to name our old car...and then every time I referred to it as "The Ferrari" everyone was like, "You got to drive a ferrari? Since when?!" And then I would have to tell the whole story and how it wasn't really a ferrari, it was a 20 something year old Toyota Corrola.

Can you say, FAIL ?

My Caps Lock can.

Sometimes I tell funny jokes. The other 98% of the time, it's pretty much just more of that FAIL business...

Here's a picture for you:

There's a couple of good looking guys. Well...maybe one good looking guy. I never was much to look at. So...yep. My dad and I went skiing the other day. Skiing. That's the coolest word. It has two i's right in the middle. :) Skiing. Um. Anyway, we went skiing and had a blast! I had never been before, so my dad helped me get going, but I think I picked it up pretty quick. I'm not saying I'm pro or anything...because I'm really not. I didn't do anything harder than a fairly easy blue run, so...I'm not that amazing. I did enjoy it though, I will say that. I only crashed 3 or 4 times and only broke one ski pole, so all in all, I think it was a pretty successful trip. By the way, it was the stupid ski lift that ate my pole. Not really...we were just on our way up the mountain, and we were going to go past the first stop, where the lift seat gets really close to the ground so you can get off if you want, and I didn't even think to lift my poles out of the way. My pole got caught under the lift seat and bent pretty bad. It broke completely in half on the way down the mountain, so I stashed it at the bottom, and just got used to skiing without poles. It wasn't too bad once I got used to it. I just had to figure out how to balance using my arms, instead of the poles. The picture I posted was our "before" picture. We decided not to take an after picture. My dad said it would look just like the before picture only with hat hair, and more sweaty and tired-looking. We did get quite a few "during" pictures though, on my dad's cell phone. We got some videos too. On the way home, there was a really pretty sunset. I'm really grateful that I live in such a beautiful world. I'm also really grateful for an awesome dad that will take a day out of his week to take me skiing. I love my dad. :)

I started reading Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage. I haven't read very much, but it's already such an interesting book. Not only is it a powerful testimony of the divinity of the Savior, it's a detailed history of the events of His life. His...premortal, mortal, and post-mortal life. :) It's an amazing book. If you have time, you should read at least a chapter or two. It's jam packed with little spiritual nuggets. 

Well, I'm looking at my Blog Post Checklist and I'm pretty sure I've done everything on the list. You know, told at least 7 dumb jokes, posted a picture, rambled about something completely pointless...you get the idea. I'm pretty sure it's time for bed now.

Have a nice day, y'all. :)

-Joseph

P to the S: Chuck Norris counted to infinity. Twice.

Oh, Canada...

This is just one more reason I smile when I think about Canada. ;)



Yep.

-Moscas

Even random Wal-Mart shoppers know the truth.

Story time! :)


     Once upon a time, I went to Wal-Mart. I happened to be wearing my BYU-Idaho t-shirt, even though at the time, I had not yet attended BYU-Idaho. I was walking toward the electronics department (pretty much the only entertaining department at Wal-Mart), when I spotted a nice sample lady giving out delicious samples. After consuming whatever delicious free food the sample lady had given me, I went to throw away my toothpick. There was a fellow sampler there trying her hardest to open the garbage can. It was one of those fancy type where you step on the pedal and the lid pops open. Well, I went over and did just that. Still wearing a somewhat confused look, she thanked me, disposed of her toothpick, and walked away. A random shopper who had been watching the whole thing said, "That's why you go to BYU-Idaho." I laughed, and agreed with him. 
     I then continued my journey to the electronics department, and not 15 seconds later, another (very nice) lady came blazing around a corner with her shopping cart and just about ran me over. She apologized quickly and hurried on her way, wherever it was she was going. A different random shopper who had seen the lady almost squash me flat said, "She goes to BYU-Provo." I really laughed this time. "That's exactly right."
     I finally got to the electronics department, but it wasn't nearly as entertaining or fulfilling after what I had just been through. After all, "life is a journey, not a destination." (-Ralph Waldo Emerson) That was probably the most epic journey to the Wal-Mart electronics department I had ever taken.


     So, when you're trying to decide which college is right for you, just take a trip to the electronics department at your local Wal-Mart. You'll find out quick which school is really the best choice. ;)


¡Ten un buen día!


-Joey

Happy Birthday, dear Jessica...

I've probably said this before, but when I try to rhyme my poetry, it's not usually any good. Why do I do it, you ask? I don't know. Maybe I just have one of the most amazing, talented sisters in the whole freaking world, and wanted to let her know.

Here you go, Jess. :)

Dearest sister, it's your birthday.
One year older. Seventeen.
You've got skills, better than Monet.
Painting like I've never seen!
Here's to you, sis. Happy Birthday!
Don't work, that would be a crime.
Also you should have a partay!
Just, you know...get home on time. ;)

Love ya, sis!

Have a nice Birthday, eh?

-Bro.

Gnu.

It's a new year. A new beginning. A time for change, and a time for those cute little things we call "New Year's Resolutions" that usually last until...the second week of January? If you're lucky. You know, there are only 365 days that will be called "2011." My challenge to you? Live every one of those days. I'm not just saying that you shouldn't die this year... That's kind of a given. I mean really live. Make every one of these next 360 days worth living.

Here's a Mormon Message for you:



So take God's advice and "look not behind thee." 2011, here we come!!!

Happy new year, eh? 2011 is gonna be partyin. ;)

Have a nice day,

-Moscas

I heart Rexburg

Whenever I start a blog post, I want to start it with the word 'sometimes.' I'm not sure why. Also when I start a blog post, it's usually not something I've planned on blogging about. It just comes out from my fingertips and sometimes makes sense. Probably more often than not y'all have no idea what I'm talking about or if there's even a point to any of this.

Well, I'm not keeping you here...

Sometimes I think I should just go sleep instead of trying to keep up with all of the crazy things going on in my life. Work, school, school, etc. Sometimes I think that sleep will be much better than a good grade in a class. Then I usually suck it up and go to class anyway. 

There really isn't a point to this post...just so you know. I just like to blog because it lets out the stress that's inside me. Sometimes my posts have a point. But today? ...not really. I'm just venting with my fingers. 

Rexburg is a wonderful place. There's plenty of snow, plenty of awesome people, but there's never enough oreos. At least...not lately. The first half of this semester my roommate and I would buy a few packages, and then go through them in a day or two. Lately...I've been using my money on other things, like...food that will actually keep me alive (I always said I could live off of oreos, but it's not really true, as much as I would like to believe it). Anyway...I think I might buy some today. 

The semester is almost over. I can't believe it's gone by so fast. And yet, it seems like forever ago that I moved out of the house. It's like it's been this way my whole life. Such a weird feeling. In two weeks I'll be back at home eating my parents' food and sleeping in their house. I'm excited to come home. :) 

I'm really going to miss Rexburg though. Maybe I'll get my mission call to Rexburg. Haha. That would be wonderful. :) It'll probably be more like...Nigeria or Greece. Who knows? There have been a few people that have said they think I'll go spanish speaking. I'm thinking that would be wonderful. But...I'm not going to count on it. 

Yesterday I got a TB test. That was the last thing that needed to happen for my papers to be finished. I just have to wait for the 17th of this month for my stake president to be able to turn them in. Aah! So exciting! I will probably have a mission call in less than a month. And then I can go to the temple, and start buying suits and other awesome mission stuff. Actually...then I can find a job and save every penny I earn for the mish. 

Then I'll serve for two years...and then I'll come home. I'll be an RM. Goodness. Life goes so fast. Then I'll get married and get old and then die. 

I'm excited for life. :) 

Bring it on!

So, anyway...have a nice day! I'm gonna go do the homework that I've been procrastinating by posting here. :p 

-Joey

P.S. I added this snow stuff...to make you feel like you're in Rexburg. It's magical, isn't it? :)

Rexburg: Home of the 8 foot snowmen.

Today it's about 34 degrees with some light snow falling. Perfect weather for just about anything. Unless you want to go wakeboarding. I'm not sure that would be very fun today. But for anything else, today is perfect. Like  drinking hot chocolate while sitting in front of the heater (we don't have a fireplace, or I would sit in front of that). You could also cuddle up in a blanket and read a good book (in front of the heater). If you're awesome, you'd go for a run, or build a snowman at the park. See? This weather is great for all kinds of things.

On Monday we got our first legit snowfall. It started snowing at around 7 in the morning, and it didn't stop until 10 at night. It was a wonderful day. :) Jaymes (my awesome roommate from Texas) and I went to Porter Park and started building a snowman. We were almost finished with the first snowball when Trevor showed up. Neither of us had ever met Trevor before, but he wanted to help out, so we let him. With the three of us pushing, we got the first snowball even bigger, and when we finally just couldn't push it any further, we made the unanimous decision that our snowman would go right there. The second snowball was almost as big as the first. We had a pretty hard time lifting it up onto the first one, but with a little grunting and some awesomeness and attractiveness, we got it up. After resting for a bit, Jaymes went to find some branches for the arms, and Trevor and I made the head. When Jaymes got back with the sticks and a random shirt that he had found in the snow, he helped us lift the head up onto the body. That's when Trevor realized that he had carrots back home, so he took off to get one. Jaymes and I went into the trees to find some pine cones for the rest of the face. Here's the finished product:

That's Jaymes standing next to Hosehead (that's what we decided to name him). If Jaymes if 6' 4", then this snowman has got to be at least 8 feet. Oh, and sorry about the bad picture quality...it was my lamesauce camera phone...

Rexburg is wonderful. I'm loving it. Biking in the snow isn't the coolest thing ever, but snow just adds such a magical feeling to life. It's the beginning of the Christmas season where everything is merry and bright. I need to stock up on hot chocolate and take lots of Vitamin C.

College is still lots of fun. I think I'm learning to budget my time a little better. I've been getting to bed semi-on-time, and I've been doing my homework. Life is great. :) Calculus is still painful, but we just started applications of integrals, which is really a pretty awesome subject. It gets harder as you get deeper into it, but for now, it's great!

Random story...yesterday I found out that Camille Saint-Saens is a guy. All my life I thought he was a girl. You can't really blame me though. I mean, with a name like Camille? How was I supposed to know that Camille was a guy? Anyway...that was random, but...it kind of just...threw my life off balance. Oh! I remember how I found this out. I was trying to find his third symphony, because it's on the movie Babe and I wanted to hear it. I think I happened upon a picture of the guy on Wikipedia or something. Anyway, you should listen to that song. It's great. :)

I should probably go get ready for class now. Humanities, here I come!

Have a nice day, eh?

Go build a snowman. Unless you don't have any snow. Then you can just sit at the front window and wish more than anything that you had as much snow as Rexburg does. ;)

I love you all,

-Moscas

Bears. Beets. BYU-Idaho.

It's been about a month since I moved out of the house. I feel so...self-sufficient. I got payed today, and that helped even more with that feeling. Other words that I would use to describe myself would be tired, tired, and...happy.

So college makes me tired. I'm sure I'm not the only one that gets tired from college.

On the other hand, college is a very happy experience. If you ever get the chance to come visit BYU-Idaho, I would strongly recommend it. There's just a special spirit here that you don't feel on any other campus. It's a spirit of togetherness. A spirit of purpose. A spirit of happiness. It's a wonderful thing.

Yesterday was an amazing day. Why, you ask, was it so amazing? FHE. Obviously. Our family consists of me and my three roommates, and 2 apartments from carriage house with six girls each. ...that's BYU-Idaho for ya. ;) Anyway, the guys had the lesson, so we taught about Captain Moroni's fortification of the cities and how we can apply that to our own lives. It was a pretty good lesson. Afterward we made ice cream sundaes off the balcony. So, one person lays on the ground with an ice cream cone in their mouth, and then we drop the ice cream, chocolate syrup, and sprinkles from the balcony and try to get it in the cone. It was way fun. But...it was a big mess. So, after we washed up with the hose, we played ultimate frisbee at the stadium. We met a guy named Ben that threw the frisbee really hard, which made it hard to catch because our fingers were freezing from the hose water...

When we got bored of the turf and stadium lights, we went to Porter Park to play frisbee in the dark. We taped a bunch of glow bracelets to it so we could see it, and then threw it back and forth in the dark. After we got bored of that, we started breaking them open (like the mature, responsible college students we are...) and spreading the glowy slime everywhere.

That's when the real fun began. ...kind of. We covered the frisbee with the glowing goop and then played catch for a little longer. We ended up breaking probably 40 of the 50 bracelets we had...covering ourselves and the ground and...pretty much everything in sight. haha. It was a blast. Until we got it in our eyes. That hurt like CRAZY!!! Also, if it got in our mouths. That was gross. It kind of burned too... I do have to say though, seeing someone's tongue and teeth glowing inside their mouth was pretty sweetawesome. :)

Afterward, we came back to our apartment and watched The Italian Job. So good! I love that movie. I've wanted a mini cooper ever since I watched that movie. But I think pretty much everyone that watches that movie ends up wanting one.

So that was yesterday. Today we washed all of out clothing that smelled like chocolate syrup and glow...stuff.  haha.

yup.

Have a nice day. :)

-joey

Lessons in patience...

Do you ever have one of those days that are just full of...learning experiences? That was yesterday for me. It seemed that everything I did took longer than I wanted it too, and sometimes didn't even work out. I drove/rode in a car for probably 7 hours total (including a 45 minute drive through Labor Day traffic from Provo to Lindon). I went to get a movie ticket, and waited in the forever long lines to find out that it was sold out. It took me until I was stuck in traffic on Geneva for 30 minutes to realize how impatient I was being. That's when I decided that I had better learn something from all these experiences. Maybe someone up top thinks I'm not patient enough. ;) So that's when I cranked up the radio and started singing along, and smiling, and waving to people. You know. Stopping to smell the flowers. But...I didn't actually stop, or It would've taken me 3 hours to get home. :p So...that was yesterday. Patience. Sometimes things just take longer than you want them too. So make the best of it. :) This world is full of wonders. Don't gripe about how you're stuck in a 5 mile line of cars when you could behaving uplifting, happy thoughts. Happiness is a choice. There you have it. 

Be happy!

Um...all of this advice is really for me. You can take the advice if you want, but...I'm the one here who needs to hear all of this. :p 

I'm moving tomorrow. That's so weird. And sad. And super exciting. And...yeah. Can you tell I have mixed feelings about this whole thing? I'm gonna miss all of my sweetawesome Utah friends and family. It'll be good for me. In less than a year I'll be who knows where, preaching the gospel. This is just preparing me for that, eh? :) I'm excited. I really am. I just can't say I won't miss Utah (and Utah's weather, as crazy as that sounds). 

Well, off I go. Don't party too hard without me, eh?

I love you all! 

-Joey

Today I love Utah.

There was a lot of rain today. And also wind. These two things plus a temperature of about 69 degrees, and I was in heaven. I rode my bike for about 20 miles, just loving the weather. My behind is a little sore now...but I'm sure it won't last long. 

Buzz Lightyear: "Who's behind?"

Slinky: "Mine."

I took a nap just barely, which I probably shouldn't have done, because it means that I'll have trouble getting to sleep tonight. But, I woke up, and I think the fluids in my ears were messed up. I was standing straight up, and it felt like I was leaning to the left. Then I leaned to the left and I almost fell over. Not cool. I wanted to Puke... Well, kind of.

"Laura got all offended when I used the work puke, but to me that's what her soup tasted like."

My dad told me I was a failure today. We went to see Karate Kid (Which is great btw), and we were talking about Letters to Juliet, because it was one of the movie options, and he asked me if I had taken a girl to see it yet. I told him no, and he said "Fail!" I guess I fail. The only way to redeem myself from this would be to take a girl to see it. Good thing it's in the dollar theater.

Okay, I'm really not that cheap, I just...haven't enjoyed spending money since I saw the price to rent my apartment this fall...

""I can't stand cheap people. It makes me real mad when someone says something like, "Hey, when are you going to pay me that $100 you owe me?" or "Do you have that $50 you borrowed?" Man, quit being so cheap!"

Um, my brain is kind of in random quote mode. Sorry about that. :p

"She got a tan and I got a sunburn"

That's the song I'm listening to right now.

Now I'm gonna go.

Goodbye.

Have a nice day!

Go jump in some puddles or something, eh? :)

-Moscas

Not 17.

So, I don't usually like confronting police officers. Most of the time I'm happy not to have to talk to them at all. Tonight was different. Know why? 'Cause I'm 18!!!

I went to a party at the Lindon park with a bunch of awesome people from my singles ward. This party was just to hang out one last time before we all moved off to college. Some of us are moving out Thursday, some in a week, others a couple weeks. I think I took the cake at 2 weeks and 4 days. Go BYU-Idaho, eh? :)

Anyway, the party was fun. We played the hugging game, which I had never played before, but it was pretty fun. haha. It's like a more mellow version of spin the bottle. But...there's more running. And no kissing. Ew.

We played frisbee, ate dark chocolate peanut M&M's (which, I decided, were AMAZING!!!!!), and sat and talked, and laughed and had a good time. :)

The sprinklers came on at 11, but we were safely secluded in the shelter of the pavilion before we actually got wet, so that was...fortunate. I think it would have been an adventure if we hadn't known, and we all got soaked. Oh well. Maybe some other time...

At around 11:35 a police car drove up (actually it was a truck), and the guy came over and asked how old we all were.

'18!' We all said, with pride. Can't pull your curfew card on us, now can you, mister policeman?

'The park closes at 11, so you guys have to go.'

Darn.

But at least we didn't get written up or ticketed for being out past curfew. Yeah!

So we left, but I was happy. I had to be home soon anyway, so it was a good excuse to break away from all of my awesome single (18 year-old) friends.

Moral of the story? Be 18, and you're automatically awesome!

Have a nice day, eh?

(Also a moral...if you're not 18 yet, don't be out past 11, eh? At least not in Lindon...)

-Moscas

Plan of Happiness. :D

So, today is Sunday, and I'm not usually on the computer on Sunday, but it was a special day, so I thought that I would post. Also, I'm going to be gone on trek until Thursday, so I wanted to get it up here before I forgot it.


Today is Fast Sunday. Not because it goes faster, because...it usually doesn't. Fast Sunday is a happy day. It's a day that we can use to strengthen our testimony in so many different ways. You can bear your testimony in sacrament meeting, you can fast and strengthen it that way, and you can give fast offerings and see the blessings that come from doing so. Fast and testimony meeting in my singles ward goes a little bit like this: Bishopric member: "We'll go until about 5 after the hour" (sits down, and 10 people go up to bear their testimonies). So...pretty much you have to get up there fast, and then we never stop at 5 after the hour. :p I think we ended at 15 after the hour once. Today it was about 20 after. Anyway, long story short, I didn't take the opportunity to bear my testimony in fast and testimony meeting. 


Afterward was Mission Prep. Well, it just so happened that we were talking about testimonies in Mission Prep, so I stood and bore my testimony there. Brother Vanchierrie (our teacher...probably misspelled...you say it Van-cherry.) Anyway, he came up and thanked me for my testimony, and told me that he knew, somehow, that I would get up and bear my testimony. Maybe he can read minds. Or maybe I was just sad that I didn't bear it in sacrament meeting, so I really wanted to when we started talking about the blessings that come from bearing testimony? I don't know. Maybe (most likely :D) he had the spirit, and just could feel that I needed/wanted to. :) I was glad for the second chance I had. Blessings really do come from bearing your testimony. Namely, a stronger testimony. In the Preach My Gospel manual, pg. 198 there is a quote by President Monson that says this: "Regarding one's testimony, remember, that which one willingly shares he keeps, while that which he selfishly keeps he loses..." So, there you go. I would encourage you to bear your testimony as often as you can. It really does help to strengthen your testimony, as well as helping others strengthen theirs.


The title of this post is Plan of Happiness. It's not really an outline or a description of that plan in any way, it's just a manifestation that the name holds true. The Plan of Happiness brings happiness. I am happy today because of that plan. That's why it's the title. I'm happy. :)


I wrote a poem the other day, and I'm going to post it now. It applies, I'm pretty sure. This isn't completely an ADD tangent... :p Okay, here it is:




Home

Familiar, smiling faces
fill the space around me.
Giving peace and comfort
in a world of chaos.

          Holiness to the Lord

Redeeming the dead,
a third of our goal.
Dressed in spotless white,
Baptizing by water and fire.
hands laid on my head,
words spoken, lives changed.

A place of happiness.
A plan of happiness,
In this life and the next.
Standing back and
looking through heaven's eyes.
Seeing the world
the way my Father sees.
A beautiful view 
from the Mountain top.

To stand in holy places
Is to stay close
to the truth. To my family.
To Heavenly Father
and His Son.
To be safe
from the influences
of worldly snares.
Safe
In the arms of His love.

          The House of the Lord

Home.




So, there you go. Hope you liked it. If you didn't, just know that this is a plan of happiness, and that this poem was an attempt to illustrate the happiness, kind of like this post was supposed to do. Did it work? I hope so.


I love the Provo Temple. This last week was the first time in a long time that I had been to that temple. They were doing renovations or some such thing, so it was closed. Every time I go there, it just feels like I'm coming home. I guess that's what inspired my poem. I love the Provo Temple. <3 Like that, see?


This was a happy week.

Today was a happy day.


I hope that y'alls lives are happy, and that maybe I helped to make them more so. I love you all. I am so grateful to have such amazing friends and family. You have all helped me so much in my spiritual progression. This gospel is true. I felt its truthfulness today, as I have many times in the past. The power of the priesthood is real. I had the wonderful opportunity to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood today, and I'm so excited to start using that priesthood to serve and bless those around me. I know that my Savior lives. I am so grateful for his willingness to sacrifice his life for me, and I know that as we strive to keep his commandments and endure to the end, he will have a place for us when we pass from this life to the next. I love the Lord, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.


I love you all. Thank you for all you do. :)


-Joseph Morris Cannon

Hugs...

Have you ever been having a really, really cruddy day, and then someone just randomly gave you a hug, and suddenly everything was okay?

That was me about 30 seconds ago. But...I was kind of on the other end. It's not like there's a bad end of a hug, but I wasn't really the one who needed it. You know?

Two of my sisters got braces today. Poor girls... I did the whole braces thing when I was 12-ish. I had them for 16 months, and the first 3 days I had them on, I wished I was dead. Okay...not really, but I was in more pain than I ever had been before. It was like having some incredibly large parasite sucking on my face all the time! And I couldn't get it off. I just had to live with this...thing in my mouth for 16 months. Painful, humiliating, ugly...these are some of the words I would use to describe my experience with braces.

Anyway, now that I'm done with that tangent, I'll get back on track...

Just a few minutes ago, my sister (one of the two that just got braces) came up and randomly gave me a hug. In my opinion, those are the best kind of hugs. :) It was nice. I think it helped her feel better, and I know it helped me feel better, even though I'm sure I'm not in nearly as much pain as she is... Anyway, I was thinking, (it was just this once...don't worry) and I decided that I don't hug my sisters as much as I should.

Sisters, if you read this come give me a hug, eh?

If you don't read this, I'll just come give you one.

I love you! :)

-Bro.

Grateful...

Do you ever get to that point where you're complaining so much that you start to annoy yourself?

Normally, I don't really complain that much. Well...I like to think that I don't. But these past few days I feel like I've been complaining a lot. Like, there are times when I just want to tell myself to suck it up and stop being such a pansy...

Anyway, whenever I start to feel like this, I find that the best thing to do is to be grateful. For what, you ask? Everything. :)

I am grateful for the wonderful weather we had today. It was a lot warmer than I thought it was going to be. That made Utah Lake much more enjoyable.

I am grateful for my friends. Friends that plan awesome boating activities. Friends that like to go on adventures. Friends that cheer me up when I'm not feeling so amazing. Friends that help me keep my standards. Friends that I look up to. Friends that I just plain love. Thank you, to all of my friends. You have helped me out in more ways than you know.

I am grateful for my family. I honestly don't know where I would be without them. I am grateful for my parents that raised me in a gospel-oriented home, and that have loved and cared for me my whole life. I am grateful for all of my siblings. I don't know what I would do without any one of them.

I am grateful for a car to drive. I am grateful that my parents allow me to drive the car that they bought and that they pay insurance for. I am grateful that it runs well day to day, and that it hasn't had any major problems.

I am grateful for the gospel. This one is big. Like, the biggest on the list. I am grateful that I have known since birth that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and that He atoned for my sins. I am grateful to have been able to grow up in this valley where I have never had to drive more than a few miles to get to church. I am grateful for all of my church leaders that have kept me on the straight and narrow. I am grateful for a living prophet that receives revelation for the church today, and that he leads and guides us where Heavenly Father wants us to go. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I am eternally grateful for that testimony.

More than anything in this world (or out of it), I am grateful for a Father in Heaven who loves me no matter how imperfect I am.

I am grateful.

-Joseph Morris Cannon