I Love My DAD

CLICK HERE to see video.

I received this in an e-mail from my own father. So I don't feel guilty ONE BIT about putting it on my blog. I love it :)

Enjoy.

12 hours

I've survived severe headaches, numberous infections, a few gashed open toes, countless jammed fingers, high fevers, a broken finger, an ATV crash, gout... I've survived all of this without any kind of pain medicine. I admit, I came close to taking them when I had gout but never could swallow that pill. In fact, I didn't even learn how to swallow pills until I started college. (And that was for vitamins, not meds :))

I've never taken ibuprofen. That is... until this past October. Shortly after my 20th birthday I seriously hurt my back. I was all alone in the apartment when it happened and the pain was so great that it literally paralyzed me. It was frightening. After what seemed like an eternity one of my roommates came home and found me in tears from the immense pain. She disappeared and immediately reappeared with some pills. I was in so much pain that I just swallowed what she gave me - no questions asked. It was 6:30pm. By 7pm I was out cold.

I woke up after what felt like 15 minutes. I was a little sore when I moved but amazingly the pain was pretty much gone! I found myself in bed covered with a blanket and a heating pad was on my back. What sweet roommates I have. I checked the clock - it was 7 AM! Amazing.

I haven't taken ibuprofen since. (Only because I haven't gotten injured since.) But next time I am in a situation where I need pain meds, trust me, I will not hesitate to swallow that ibuprofen.

Stuffed Animals

I've had a few stuffed animals in my lifetime. I loved them like they were my own children. I respected their feelings and made sure they all recieved equal amounts of play time with me. We travelled across America and Europe together and if I decided to bring one - then I'd have to bring them all. It was only fair. We share many great memories. They were always nonjudgemental, they kept me safe at night, and they provided me the comfort that I needed when I needed it.

But that was when I was a child. I've since grown up and can't even remember whatever happened to my 'best friends'. Sad, but true. Over these past years I've learned to survive without them. I've 'outgrown' them. I've almost completely forgotten about them.

Floribel recently got home from a trip to the happiest place on Earth- DISNEYLAND. Since I could not go she was thoughtful enough to bring me back a piece of the happiest place on Earth. She gave me a beautiful necklace with my initial on it. Love it. In addition to that, she also got me a stuffed animal.

Cutest thing ever. It's baby Pluto! (Comes with his own adorable hooded blanket too.)

Now I am wondering, how did I ever manage go this long without a stuffed animal? They comfort you in a way that no other person can. Do yourself a favor - go buy a stuffed animal today. (I don't care how old you are)

Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.

I first fell in love with SURVIVOR when I was a young sophomore in high school. I love everything about it - the strategy involved, the challenges, the rewards... oh I could go on! Best. Show. Ever. I've dreamed about being on the show. I wouldn't do it for the million (although that would be a nice little side bonus if I did win :)) I would do it simply for the love of the game.

For 4 years now I've been watching SURVIVOR all by myself because none of my friends or family watch it. That's 9 seasons of exciting blindsides and victories! My family members would run for cover when I got done watching an episode because I would have to explain to them all the exciting points of the episode. It was simply too exciting to keep to myself. I HAD to talk to somebody about it. But since they don't watch it I would then have to explain who's who and what the alliances 'appear' to be and what they really are and the strategies that are brewing up and etc. You get the idea... not all that fun.

This year I found out that my next door neighbor, Mike Hilton, watches Survivor too. Not just Mike, but his whole family plus the Campbell's. What? For 4 years there has been a group of people having a SURVIVOR party while I watch it alone. I wish I would have known this 9 seasons ago... oh well. Can't change the past.

Last week I was invited to their SURVIVOR party to watch it with them. Life changing. My 10th season of SURVIVOR is going to be amazing now that I have a group of people I can talk to who actually know what I'm talking about. Oh it's so exciting! See you Thursday for our next party my fellow survivor friends.

Living In The Moment

I love Germany. I love the landscape. I love the food. I love the language. I love the traditions. I love it all. (minus the beer and cigarettes)

I had the priviledge of living there for 5 whole years. That's a fourth of my lifetime. Sadly, that fraction is getting smaller and smaller with each passing year. What's even more sad is my memories are fading with each passing day.

As I grow older I appreciate that opportunity more and more. It was a wonderful experience, but in the moment I didn't appreciate it. Originally we were only suppose to be there for 3 years. I was definitely living in the future as I counted down those three years in anticipation of my grand return back to Utah. When three years were up I was told we would be staying another 2 years... what!?!! I could not believe this.

But what could I do? Absolutely nothing. A year went by and one brother was already back in Utah attending BYU and the other was leaving to move in with my grandparents and complete his senior year with his friends in Utah. How unfair, I thought. But looking back I wish I could have seen that it was unfair that my brothers didn't get the full 5 year experience. I guess over time I have developed a new perspective on the situation. :)

I've been home for 6 years now. That's longer than the time I actually spent in Germany. I miss it so much and want to go back to visit. One day I will, but it won't be the same. I regret not living in the moment for those 5 years. I'm not going to let that happen ever again.

"Don’t let your life pass you by, focus on the present and enjoy today!"

- Glen Hopkins

PERSPECTIVE

DEFINITION #1:
the relationship or proportion of the parts of a whole, regarded from a particular standpoint



Okay, obviously it's a man playing the saxophone. Well, from my point of view anyways...

DEFINITION #2:
a specific point of view in understanding or judging things or events, esp. one that shows them in their true relations to one another.

Take ice for example. Depending on your perspective, ice could be a number of things. According to Reader's Digest:


As a sheer challenge.


As a sign of life.


As a thing of beauty.


As an upscale igloo.

DEFINITION #3:

the appearance of objects or scenes as determined by their relative distance and positions.

I don't blame her - from her perspective an elephant really is bigger than the moon. Final answer.

Good Citizen

I use my right to vote.
I follow all street laws (I come to COMPLETE stops at stop signs. None of this rolling business.)

I pay my taxes every year.

I care for the environment and do what I can to make it better.
I am honest in everything that I do.

I am a good citizen, but I still can't help feeling nervous while in the presence of a cop. Why is that?

I respect cops and what they do but maybe I get nervous because they have quite a bit of power. Let's face it, if it was ever your word against their's - they would win every time.

Today while running I noticed in the distance was a cop car coming my way. It was the only car on the street and I'm the only one on the sidewalk. I kept my eye on him as he got closer. I'm running, what could I possibly do wrong to violate any laws?! Well that's rational thinking. However sometimes my imagination gets the better of me. I was starting to get somewhat nervous, just somewhat when all of the sudden he reached up for something -

OH NO.

I flinched a little when I saw his arm start to reach up. I knew it, he was going to turn his lights on and 'pull' me over. Or maybe he was reaching for a gun or some cuffs. My heart started beating faster and I noticed that I picked up my pace significantly. I was no longer 'somewhat' nervous. This was a full panic now.

Oh... He was just waving 'hello' at me. *sigh of relief*