Thursday, November 28, 2013

Day 28 - Thanksgiving 2013 (Happy Thanksgiving Day!)

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!!!!!!!

Today, to end my daily posting of what I'm grateful for this month and this past year, I am grateful for responsibilities. Without responsibilities, I would be a lazy man. I am glad I have responsibilities at home, at school, and in my religion. At home, I have responsibilities as a father and a husband. At school, I have responsibilities dealing with homework and tests. In my religion, I have responsibilities dealing with home teaching and serving the Lord. Without these responsibilities, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Day 27 - Thanksgiving 2013

Today I am thankful for food, water, and drinks...nurturing items that keep us alive. I'm thankful that we have financial means in order to not starve. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Day 26 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for friends. Friends are ones that ask you how you are doing. Friends are ones that actually listen when you tell them how you're doing. Friends are ones you can trust. I'm thankful for friends, because my friends are ones I can trust. I try to help them as much as I can in order to give back to them what they continually give to me.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Day 25 - Thanksgiving 2013

Today I am grateful for books. Books are a way to escape the worries of your life, and slip into another world. Books are healthy for you.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Day 24 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am thankful for my glasses. This morning when I woke up, they weren't where I had left them when I went to sleep last night. As we were searching for them, I realized how grateful I am to have them...to be able to see is a blessing. Without them, my vision is really blurry.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Day 23 - Thanksgiving 2013

Today I am thankful for my grandparents (those who have passed away and those who are still living on this earth). I love them all. They raised my parents to be spiritually-strong individuals, and they are examples of someone I want to become. I strive to gain qualities I admire in them.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Day 22 - Thanksgiving 2013

For the twenty-second day of this Thanksgiving Day season, I am grateful for mostly-open computer labs in the Austin (where I have my mechanical engineering classes every day). On Friday I was working on this big project, and I was in there from a little before my class (which started at 10:15 that morning) until I left about a little after 6 that evening (with a few breaks). I'm thankful there wasn't any more classes that day so that I could work nonstop on my project.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Day 21 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for teachers...especially my mechanical engineering teachers. They do their best to help us understand the material in each class. Thank you!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Day 20 - Thanksgiving 2013

I'm grateful for rain and snow. With living in a dry climate, I am always grateful for moisture. 

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Day 19 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am thankful for my mom. She's a strong individual who is a great example to me. She is a wonderful caregiver of my childhood home. I remember those late-night talks with her about struggles and accomplishments in my life. She would give me wise counsel, and she would listen to whatever I had to say. Thank you, Mom, for being there when I needed you :)

Monday, November 18, 2013

Day 18 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for movies/television shows that my wife and I can relax to after a long day or week...ones we can enjoy over and over again.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Daily Insights from my Life #11



This is a great quote from a man who always lifts me up and encourages me to be better. I love the counsel he gives.

Day 17 - Thanksgiving 2013

I'm grateful for my dad. He is a great example to me. I strive to be like him. He was a great father and scout leader. He helped me get to where I am today in scouting and spiritually, mentally, and physically. I love having talks with him about school, things going on at home, etc. Thank you, Dad, for being my dad.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Day 16 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for BYU sports (especially football and basketball). They are a great way to spend some of the weekend. Go Cougs!!!

Day 15 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for a bed. It is a place for us to sleep during the night and rest from our labors every day.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Daily Messages #2

"It is time for us to understand that we—the neighbors, friends, and family of less-active members and nonmembers—are ideally situated to offer an invitation with the proper love and consideration that the one we invite deserves. We hope the invitation will be accepted, but if it is not, we should continue to demonstrate friendship and Christlike love so that the one we invited knows that the relationship we had nurtured and cultivated was not simply a means to an end but a lasting and true friendship."
—L. Tom Perry, "Missionary Work in the Digital Age"

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Day 14 -Thanksgiving 2013

Today will be a short one, because it's late.

I am grateful for dominoes. They make my son happy. All in all I'm thankful for anything that makes my son, my wife, and everyone else I care about happy.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Hope Y'all Enjoy My Posts & Share Them With Others If You Want

I just wanted to say that I hope everyone is enjoying the posts I put on my blog. It is a way for me to share things I love or insights I gain. I hope y'all enjoy my continuing posts. You can share the links of my posts with others if you want. I trust you to not abuse that trust.


Day 13 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for my brothers, Luke and Jacob.

Luke is a great brother to me. We are Star Wars geeks, and we are fellow mechanical engineers (he's graduated while I'm still at school). He is a great example to me.

Jacob is also a great brother to me too. We are both big sports fans.

I love my brothers. They and their wives are great friends with my wife and I. That is who my brothers are...friends. I can share things with them I wouldn't share with many other people, and I trust their advice.

I love y'all!

Daily Insights from My Life #10

There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the world.

Robert Louis Stevenson

If we are make the decision to be happy, you'll be amazed at the changes in your life. It can also change the lives of those around you. A smile, a hug, or a "How are you?"  from you can brighten someone else's day. They'll know that someone cares how they feel.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Day 12 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a strength and an anchor in my life. With my family centered around it, we are stronger that we would be without it.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Day 11 - Thanksgiving 2013

Happy Veteran's Day!

This is to all of you veterans and members of the military. Thank you. I'm thankful for all that you have done, endured through, and all that you do now. Thank you for serving our/your country, and maintaining our freedom. Toby Keith sang in his song, "American Soldier", "...When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right, I'm out here on the front lines. Sleep in peace tonight." Because of what y'all did and do, I know that I can sleep in peace. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. May God bless you for the service you've given and/or are giving. Thank you.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Day 10 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for the temple. Through temple ordinances, we make sacred promises with our Heavenly Father. Through the temple those who are dead can receive those ordinances and make those sacred promises through us. It is a great feeling when you are doing that work for those who have passed on....especially for those who are related to you.

I'll add one more thing...I'm also grateful for indexing :)

Day 9 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am thankful for a place where my family and I can live.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Day 8 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for a laptop. With a laptop, we are able to get things done online we couldn't otherwise do. I can have access to programs in order to finish my school work. We can stay in touch with friends and family at the click of a button :)

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Day 7 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for Julie's family. They support one another. They are willing to help each other whenever needed. I love that every month they all fast for those in the family who are struggling in some way or another.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Day 6 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for my two sisters, twins Rachel and Rebekah. They are amazing individuals who served successful missions for the LDS church. I have always had a special connection with them ever since we were younger. Thank you for being there when I needed someone. Thank you for inspiring me to be a better person. Thank you, Rachel and Rebekah, for being great examples for me and many others.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Day 5 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for a car that works. It has it's problems, but at least it gets us where we need or want to go. Keep going, baby...keep going! :)

Monday, November 4, 2013

One of My All-Time Favorite Pins from Pinterest! #9 [It's A Wonderful Life]


It's a Wonderful Life....Christmas classic.  A movie watched at Christmas time that you never get tired of seeing.  Can you hear the bell?

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/553450241678687510/

One of the greatest classics ever...


One of My All-Time Favorite Pins from Pinterest! #8 [Imagination and Reading]

Brandon Mull #Author #Quote #Reading

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/553450241678687523/

...need I say more :)

One of My All-Time Favorite Pins from Pinterest! #7 [Fablehaven]





http://www.pinterest.com/pin/553450241678687525/




One of the best series ever written...Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Day 4 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for my son, Jared. He is growing to be a big, strong kid. Bear with me as I now I boast of his most recent accomplishments. Just last week, he stood up without any help from us, a table, a couch or a chair (his usual aides). He stood up in the middle of the living room, and I was so proud of him. Another thing he has recently accomplished is the walking itself. Every day, he is getting better, more steady, and more sure of himself.

He is a light in my life, and I love him. Coming home to him and my beautiful wife, Julie, make my days better. They are there to help me when I'm stressed. I hope I can give back to them as much as they give to me. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for two wonderful people in my life, and thank you, Julie and Jared, for being there for me. I love y'all a lot. <3

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Day 3 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for a lovely wife, Julie. She is the love of my life. She is a wonderful mother to our son, Jared. She had tons of patience as I was stuck at school for most of the day every day this last week. She has had that same patience other weeks on certain days when I have to stay on campus until 5 or 6 in the evening. I love you, sweetheart. You are a righteous daughter of God. You are an amazing example to me. Thank you.

Daily Insights from My Life #9


I felt like I needed to share this experience I had this Sunday morning.

Today as I was indexing names for baptisms in the United Kingdom from 1719, I went through two daughters of the same parents, and then right after them, the widowed mother was baptized. I thought that was cool, and wanted to share it. The two girls in their 20s were baptized along with their mother.

I just thought that was neat that they were all baptized together.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Day 2 - Thanksgiving 2013

I am grateful for college football. College football is one out of many things that helps me relax when I have a stressful week at school.

Day 1 - Thanksgiving 2013

This is to make up for yesterday.

I am grateful for past and present mechanical engineering major friends who help me when I'm stuck on a problem. I try to give back whenever I can in helping them with their problems too. Thank you. Y'all help me understand what I'm learning.