NEXT BEST THING TO THE PORCH SWING

IT HAS RECENTLY COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE READ SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WRITE ON THIS BLOG OF MINE. I HAD NO IDEA. BUT NOW THAT I KNOW THAT I HAVE AN AUDIENCE I GUESS I SHOULD ACTUALLY WRITE SOME THINGS OF SUBSTANCE.

AS THE END OF SUMMER DRAWS CLOSER...THE SCHOOL YEAR SNEAKS UP BEHIND US READY TO STRIKE. HOWEVER, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN QUITE A FEW YEARS I AM SUPER EXCITED FOR FALL. WHY? YOU MIGHT ASK. IT ISN'T THE FALL COLORS, ALTHOUGH THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL ATMOSPHERE. THE ANSWER FOR ME IS VERY CLEAR...FOOTBALL!

NOT ONLY IS IT TIME FOR THE COUGARS TO SHOW THEIR TRUE COLORS AND COME OUT TO SHOW THE NATION WHY THEY ARE RANKED IN THE TOP 20 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON, BUT OHS FOOTBALL IS KICKING OFF AS WELL. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD TO COMPARE WITH FRIDAY NIGHTS ON THE BLEACHERS OF A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL WATCHING KIDS, THAT YOU ACTUALLY KNOW, HIT EACH OTHER IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL BATTLES FOR DOMINANCE ON A WELL-LIT FIELD. THE SMELL OF THE GRASS, THE YELLING OF ANGRY MOTHERS AND COACHES, THE HOT COCOA, THE OVERLY ENTHUSIASTIC CHEERLEADERS, AND THE PAINTED FACES. THERE'S NOTHING BETTER...EXCEPT FOR SITTING ON THE FRONT PORCH SWING OF COURSE.

THE CALMING OF A STORM

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PERSON OF MANY WORDS...BUT IT SEEMS THAT IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED. THIS ISN'T TO SAY THAT I DON'T STILL HAVE MY OPINIONS, THEORIES, AND IDEAS. ON THE CONTRARY, I THINK I HAVE MORE RUNNING THROUGH MY HEAD THAN EVER BEFORE. BUT, I HAVE FINALLY LEARNED A SMALL PORTION OF THE LESSON OF PATIENCE THAT THE LORD HAS BEEN TRYING TO TEACH ME OVER THE COURSE OF MY ENTIRE LIFE. I AM FINALLY WAITING AND WATCHING THE SAVIOR AS HE CALMS THE SEA.

FINALLY I HAVE LEARNED, THAT WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE LORD'S WILL IN OUR LIVES, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE AND THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
I FINALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT ROLE "GRACE" PLAYS IN OUR LIVES. THE LORD DOESN'T WAIT UNTIL "AFTER" ALL WE CAN DO. HE HELPS US "AS" WE DO ALL WE CAN DO. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT I AM READY AND WILLING TO ACCEPT EVERYTHING THAT THE LORD HAS FOR ME...EVEN IF I HAVEN'T PLANNED FOR IT.

ROAD TRIP

This last weekend I discovered that the front porch swing isn't the only place to do a little pondering. I went on a road trip to California to visit a part of the state that I spent quite a bit of time in.

It was a really neat experience and I learned a lot about enduring the trials of life. I have a couple of friends that really are having a hard time doing the things that they know they are supposed to, and it's hard for me to seem them like that. I wish that I could do something for them to make it easier. But I can't. Each of us are given different things to face and each of us have to do it on our own. There are very few constants in life and we just have to make sure to hold on to those as we fight our way through whatever else we face.

It was really good to get away from home for a while and do a little thinking on the road. And what made it better was that I was with a small group of really great friends that helped me forget about the normal stresses of life. Sometimes we really just need to get out there on the road and "Keep on Keepin' on!" I hope that I can do that during my life. I love my friends and know that if they ever needed anything that I could give them, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Loud and Proud

I have never been a person of many faces. With me what you see (or hear) is what you get. And if I'm thinking something you generally know it. That could be seen as a fault, but I see it as a benefit to those around me. Not only do I play the part of a PA system, making all of the announcements that anyone could want, but people never have to wonder where they stand with me.

I am also a very passionate person. Well...I'm passionate about the things that I believe in, and that list is continually growing. One of the things i believe in strongly is coincidence. It doesn't exist!

As you sit on a porch swing and watch people walk by, you notice that there is something that draws them together. I have no idea what it is, but it's there. You can't see it, but you can feel it. I can't answer any of the questions that are asked about it, I just know that everything happens for a reason and that people are brought together for a purpose. There is a plan for all of us. We just need to be able to take a minute and figure out what our part in that plan is. That's why I have my swing.

In the last couple of days I have been surprised to learn of different things that have just fallen into place for me in my life. I was called by BYU Broadcasting on Monday and offered a job as a sports broadcaster in the fall, the Seminary Teaching office called on Tuesday and offered me a student teaching position at Lehi High School Seminary, and then I was offered a position as a Sports and News Anchor for BYU's Daily News. Some of these things I have been hoping and praying for over a long period of time while others have never crossed my mind. I have no idea how to give thanks for all of the things that I am receiving, but I know that it isn't coincidence. It never is.

Everything we do affects those around us. We have an affect on perfect strangers and people we have known since birth. It's like a ripple. It starts with a single drop, a single person, a single decision. Then, before you know it, a whole see of people is moving because of our actions (or inaction). There is nothing truly personal. "We're all in this together. When we reach we can fly, know inside, we can make it." We can make it and we will if we take the time to sit on the porch and realize where we need to go, who we can influence for good, and how.

That's what this blog is for. This is one way I hope I can influence people for the better. I am grateful for the people in my life. They have all helped me in one way or another, and probably will never know the full affect of their influence. This is me saying, "THANKS!"