57 - Zombies

WARNING: this one is a little weird. Haha I am thankful for Zombies! I know it has been a little while since I posted so of course this is the one I choose to post right? well here we go. Let me tell you why I am thankful for zombies today.

I was asked to do a poster for a class that documents a complex process making it easier for someone to understand. I could have done how to deep sea fish or how sunlight is turned into sugar, but instead I wanted to go out on a limb and document how a body becomes a zombie. Turns out there is actually a website called the Federal Vampire and Zombie Association. Yeah, I was mystified too. I learned a lot about zombies. So here is why I am thankful for them: Zombies are not actually real (shocker) but are a completely made up piece of lore that has changed and morphed into a complex being that we have an entire website on. I mean, people have studied their sociology for crying out loud.

Did you know you can take college courses in Elvish? Yeah, who would have thought! I am grateful for the undaunted human spirit. This is all so trivial and unnecessary. But coming from a cynic of most epic proportions, take it as it is: I am grateful that we dream, imagine, and study ridiculous things just because we can!

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56 - My Dad

I have a fantastic Family. At the head of every fantastic family are fantastic parents. Half of a couple is my dad, which means he is half the reason I am who I am and have a fantastic family. That was confusing. Anyways, I couldn't ask for a better role model and friend. My Dad is a hard working, optimistic, genuine, righteous, lovable individual that I would never try and replace. I am grateful for my Dad and I hope to be a Dad just like him someday.

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55 - Cheap Sunglasses

I have a lot of family. My immediate family consists of 22 people other than me. I have 11 nieces and nephews, 9 brothers and sisters, 2 parents, and it only gets bigger from there. Marrying into another family only makes things better. Every Wednesday night the youth in the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints get together and have something called mutual. They learn how to better teenagers, peers, siblings, you name it. Mutual is intended to make everyone a better person. My little sister-in-law is too young to go to mutual and since my Mother-in-law is a leader over the Young Women we get to hang out most Wednesday nights. I had to go to the grocery store on this particular Wednesday when my little sister and I were rocking out to Cheap Sunglasses by RAC while wearing said cheap sunglasses. The truth is, hers are actually very expensive sunglasses that she borrowed from my wife. I am grateful for these cheap sunglasses moments that I get with family members, and I am grateful for the cheap sunglasses.

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54 - Life

Now I don't want to be too sappy and emotional on this one because there are plenty of those blogs out there, but I have to say that I am grateful for the miracle of life. I am looking forward to being a Dad for the first time and it is a little scary but also very exciting. I can't say that there is any logical reason for me wanting to be a Dad because it requires more time, energy, money, and love focused outside myself. It doesn't make much logical sense, but there is something inside all of us that urges us to continue life. I am grateful that I have the chance to participate in this miracle of life.

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53 - Umarekawari

As many of you know I have been on a brief sabbatical. Consider this my recommitment to a second go. Life gets busy and things fall by the side. I hope I haven't stopped being grateful, but I decided it is time to start again. There are so many things that we get second chances at and I am grateful for that. I am grateful that no matter what happens we have the chance to commit to being a better person. I can decide at any moment to study more diligently, to love more fully, to pay attention more intently. I have been fascinated lately with the idea of being born again.

The Buddhist believe that at the end of your life you will become either a higher life form or a lower one based on your previous life and actions. This idea is called Umarekawari. It is a compound word taken from the word Umareru (to be Born) and Kawaru (to Change). It is a beautiful idea of life continuing but never the same. Sometimes we need a little push, a little Umarekawari if you will to make us new, give us hope, and change us in some way. I hope to make Umarekawari a daily part of my life as I strive to become, not a high life form, but just a better person in all respects. Here is my best hope of an Umarekawari:

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52 - Prayer

The descent to my apartments seemed never-ending. One foot slowly in front of the other, tranquil and lethargic. A sense of urgency longs them to move faster, to be productive. My mind protests. Eyes watering slowly at first, I feel a little numb. There is nothing specific that I yearn for... in fact, I couldn't tell you why I feel the way I do. I change my clothes to exercise and before I start the words to a favorite song come into my mind: "Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray? In the name of Christ your Savior, did you seek for loving favor as a child today? Oh how praying rests the weary." I fall to the floor and have a good long conversation with my savior.

I know that God is there listening to me. I know that my Savior Jesus Christ is always ready to save. Prayer is the only reason I have this assurance and I glory in it. 

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51 - James Christensen

Bought some cards for them to sign :)

James Christensen is and always has been one of my heroes. If you don't know who he is you really need to look him up. Today, at the Springville Art Museum, he and his two daughters came and spoke to a group of us. Listening to him talk and seeing his personality was an awesome experience. I was able to talk to him afterward and get his autograph. He is a genuinely nice person and I loved talking to him. I can't even being to express the influence that he has had on my life. Since I was a kid I loved his style and sense of imagination and creativity. As far as thinking outside the box goes, he was one person that let me know that it was okay to do as an adult. If you haven't had a chance to look at his art then please do so now. What an awesome night to meet a childhood hero.

What a nice guy.

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50 - Summer

If you can't see it, there is snow all over the plant...and still coming down.

I woke up to this. I am afraid I was not grateful for the surprise. I am grateful that Summer is coming soon. I don't think I will miss winter for a while.

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49 - Paintings

We just manages to hang all of our pictures on the wall of our new apartment. Standing back and looking at them brings a certain sense of gratitude, but just being in the same room manages to bring a sense of warmth and comfort. On the wall is a grouping of three paintings. All of them are my wife's and she has great taste in art. One is from her study abroad to Italy, the other from her time visiting Jerusalem and Egypt. And a third is American, but depicts Christ at the Sea of Galilee. From three different parts of the world, these three paintings don't match in style or theme, but they come together beautifully on the same wall. Art seems to have a way with transcending cultural boundaries. I am so grateful for the paintings that are hanging on my wall.

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48 - Walking

Fifteen minutes before church starts and we are making our way toward the door. It creaks behind us and we are outside in the shadow of our house. The air is a little brisk, but comfortable in a way. Stepping out into the sun is exhilarating. The sudden rise in temperature is both welcome and needed. A cool breeze is blowing and we feel as though church should be held outside as well. There are four of us trekking down the road about a quarter mile to the church. Step after step I think less about being on time and more and more about the beautiful scenery that surrounds us. I feel as though I have been cooped up indoors for the last several months. Right now, however, the air seems sweeter than it has been. I am grateful for my feet that can carry me to Church on this beautiful morning.

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47 - Saturdays

Why does it seem like nothing in the world gets done until the weekend? Crazy how life just seems to pile up day after day like dirt on the floor until the one day that you can clear it away and start again fresh. What truly baffles me is that it happens day after day in the same exact pattern. Maybe I can offer some suggestions that will improve your Saturdays just a little bit:

1.) Never go to Walmart at Midnight - People don't like shopping on Sunday. I am actually ardently opposed to it. Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and all that kind of prohibits shopping on Sunday. This must be the case with other people as well because it was a madhouse on Saturday evening.

2.) Wake up Early - I know you don't want to hear it, but getting up early actually makes your day longer and a lot more productive.

3.) Plan out your day - Saturdays are notorious for being unplanned madness. There is always a lot to do, but we take a strange pride in not budgeting our time...thus adding to the craziness.

I am grateful for saturdays, but they need to be done right. Maybe these help, maybe they don't. I know they help me though, so give them a try.

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46 - Fingernails

Weird, I know, but you have to have one of these every once in a while right? I was walking back to my car and thinking about how I used my fingernails that day. Think about how badly our fingers would hurt all the time if we didn't have something as simple as fingernails to scrape, push, guard, and cushion. We would constantly be feeling our bones pushing on the tender tips of our fingers. Strange, yes, but I am grateful for my fingernails.

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45 - Trophies

So I got a new job right? Well, I was hired to run a laser cutter to engrave trophies. In order to integrate myself to the office and the process of things I have started with the polishing and assembling of trophies. The more I think about it, the more I think trophies are kind of pointless. I have gotten a certain number of ribbons and trophies in my life and they are sitting in a box getting dusty. The more I think about it though, the more I am grateful that something of that nature exists. I think it could be done a little more...how could I say...usefully? Isn't it wonderful to have a little trinket or something to remind you of a good experience or time in your life? I have a good friend who would always say: "take a picture to remember this moment." Great philosophy.

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44 - The Car in the Asphault

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43 - Change

Head down, hands full. I shuffle over the damp asphalt dodging the puddles and glancing back and forth for cars that might drive too close to the sidewalk. I tuck my portfolio a little tighter under my arm and shuffle faster. The contents of the case feels more precious to me than almost anything else at this moment. I get lost in thought as I imagine another student with head down bumping into me, sending the precious pages of my portfolio into the rainwater surrounding me. finally arriving at the car I heave a deep sigh and sit. I want to stay here. I want to sit and listen to the rain play a gentle melody on my windshield as I drift off to sleep. In my rearview mirror I can see a car idling, waiting for my parking spot. I sigh. There seems to be no rest. It is just as well though, I have to get to work anyways. Work drags on. I want to be present, involved, and energetic...but sometimes I feel as though I am just putting on the face, while inside all I want to do is sit alone for a moment. I wonder where these feelings come from. Perhaps a lack of sleep has gotten me to a state of some kind of mild delirium. I sigh as the clock ticks away. It is only 7:00 and I feel as though I will collapse at any moment. There are still things to be done. Clothes to fold, boxes to unpack, and Dracula is sitting next to me, the bookmark in the middle of a chapter. Sigh. I am grateful for the hope that tomorrow might be different. I am grateful for the chance I have to maybe look at something outside myself; to change my attitude, adjust my paradigm, and see the world in a new light. Maybe tomorrow will be different.

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42 - Contact

Yesterday I was thinking about some people that I haven't seen in a while and I made a kind of sub-conscious commitment to get back in touch with them. Sad, but one of these people is my cousin. How I have gone this long not seeing or talking to him is beyond me. The other happens to be a good High School friend by the name of Devin Flory. When we both left on our separate missions we knew it would be a good four years before we would see each other again. After those four years we met up long enough for me to meet his wife and that was just about it. Today I called him. Best thing I have done in a while. We just talked about life, things that we were planning, things that we were hoping. I had forgotten how long it had been and somehow it was as easy as it had ever been to talk to him. Great guy that I hope I can somehow keep in contact with throughout the rest of my life even though it is practically guaranteed that we will live very far away from each other for the majority of our lives, I am so grateful that I was able to get back in contact with him.

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41 - Mom

Though this is only half of the kids, I think I have a super awesome family.

Youth contains a myriad of memories; good, bad, clear, and foggy. Many of mine include my Mom. I am one of the few members of my family that prefers to wake up early. Sunday mornings were some of my favorite. While everyone else was sleeping in, I would get up and wander upstairs in my pajamas to find my mom doing one of two things:

1.) Cooking everyone breakfast so we would be on time to church and everyone would wake up to the smell of german pancakes, amish oatmeal, or hash browns.

2.) Doing her personal scripture study. Sometimes I felt bad interrupting this time because my Mom had little to no time to herself which is why she was up so early these Sunday mornings. I was never shooed away or told to entertain myself while she finished her study. Generally we would just sit an talk about Jesus Christ, church, life, or just about anything that came up until my Mom would look at her watch and give a little gasp. 

"Go wake up your siblings, we are going to be late to church."

To this day I remember how she sacrificed her time and study to give me attention. I am so grateful for my mother.

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40 - KSL

We are moved in! let me just tell you about our night. We are sitting in the basement and we had just been talking about how we would want to replace the rug at some point because it was old and kind of dark. We wanted something a little bit lighter to brighten up the room. Our wonderful new landlords even said that if we found a good deal then they would buy it for the apartment. We were getting really discouraged in our search because we needed a big one (around 7x10) and anything better than what we had was around $300.00. I had looked earlier that day for one on KSL Classifieds but it hadn't looked too promising. We decided to take another look and the first one that popped up was an 8x11 chevron patterned run that already matched our apartment and it had been posted less than an hour before. We called and told them that we wanted it and by the time we got there to look at it she had had three other people call and say that if we didn't want it then they did.

This post is saying that I am grateful for KSL Classifieds, but honest truth, it was God that made this happen. The timing was perfect and I know it wasn't us. I am grateful for KSL, but more than that I am grateful that God works to help us out with things that aren't the most crucial, but are important to us. It just made the perfect end to this long day of moving and helped us feel a little more like we have a home.

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39 - Moving

Making zucchini boats with brother and sister in law in our old apartment.

Boxes line the walls and stretch toward the ceiling. I spy a weak point and worry that it is far too precarious to place another box. Hands on hips, I survey the room and look for something else that can be placed in a box. Nothing comes to mind. For a moment my mind wanders and I get sad. I think of our next door neighbors and our landlords. I think of the friends that we have made here. A tight knot forms in my chest and I mentally shake myself. We are only moving a few miles away...but things will change. I heave a sigh and select the lucky box to be taken out to the car first. It is a box that has been around this block a few too many times. Packing tape from several previous movings is layered and provides, I pray, an extra layer of support. Though it is most definitely not my last time, I cringe as I walk out the door. Like an omen of things to come, I wonder when I will leave for the last time.

Our living arrangements over the last year and a half have been amazing. I loved our ward, the community, our landlords, location, everything. Sometimes nature just demands change. In our case, a little more space was needed. So when the opportunity arose, we decided to make the move. I am not grateful that we are moving for any specific reason, but more than anything, I am grateful for the idea of moving. Allow me to explain: Moving is a pain. I want to move as little as I have to in my life. However, think about the idea of moving. I can pack up practically everything that I own, place it in a trailer, and head to a new location where I will meet new people, see new things, and have new experiences. I guess more than anything I enjoy the opportunity to meet new people. I feel like moving has to happen sometimes just to remind us that we are a small part of this world and in the end we will all be gone someday and people take our place. It is a beautiful cycle that I am grateful to participate in.

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38 - Massaman curry

You wouldn't believe the mess.

Made Massaman Curry today and I think it turned out great. The mess came not because it is a super difficult recipe but because half of our house is packed up and the other half is stacked on counter tops and in the middle of the floor. Good stuff. I opened the two cans of coconut milk with a steak knife which was good to confirm that if we are starving and have lost our can opener, there is a way to open it short of hitting it on the sidewalk. We have a little Asian Market in the area that is amazing. They are so helpful. They taught us how to make this curry and it is our favorite! If you want the recipe then email me. I'm not going to type it up if I don't have to :). swimmin24.7@gmail.com.

I am grateful for Massaman Curry!

Masman isn't necessarily the most attractive curry...but it is amazing.

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