The weeks seem to be getting longer- sometimes that's a good thing.

Last week I was in Ohio. I keep getting sent to Ohio, but I don't know why, I don't ever do very well in that part of the country. Oh well. It was very pretty there, nonetheless.

Cuyahoga Falls, OH


On Saturday I ran my first triathlon ever! It was held at BYU. I really didn't think I was going to do as well as I did, my goal was simply to finish. However, I made up a lot of time in the swim and did extremely well. I didn't really have time to give anyone notice, so there are no photos to document the event (except for the one they took at the end of the race with all 160 or so racers- to be posted soon!).

I loved the triathlon so much that I've decided to seriously start training for other ones. So Tuesday I got up early and went to the gym for a swim, then headed immediately out for my bike. I biked all the way to my sister's house and was just catching her leaving. She was taking her kids to the zoo and she invited me to come as well. After some thought, I decided it would be fun, after all, I sure do love my niece and nephew. Here are some of the zoo photos (I took 147 photos at the zoo).










Something I really love about Halloween and the fall season in general is pumpkins. I like pumpkin flavored foods and the color of pumpkins and I like carving pumpkins. On my mission there were no pumpkins, so instead I carved a watermelon. It was this crazed that started me into some really fun carvings. I wish I had a picture of that watermelon. It was Spongebob Squarepants.
Anyway, last year I figured out how to make some really fun patterns and here is the result:





This year, I made some more patterns and this is the first one of the year:







This Friday I will be carving more starting at about 9:00pm at my house... so if anyone (witches included *wink*) wants to bring a pumpkin and join me, I would love to have them.

Last Week

Last week went by so fast, I wonder where it went.

Zank and I started on building a brick mailbox on Monday. The thing is, neither of us know anything about masonry. Of course, being the manly men that we are, that didn't deter us from trying. We looked online for some instructions, bought the material, and started going. Long story short, we got it finished... in one way or another... and if I may say, I don't think it looks to shabby. On the plus side, now I have a very secure mailbox so I don't have to keep sending things to my Sandy PO Box.

Mailbox



Tuesday morning, I decided to go for a run. Not just any run however, I decided to try for a half marathon (the farthest I have ever run is a 10k). I ran from my house to my sister's house and then back. I noticed that after an hour my left foot began to hurt. After 1 hour 20 minutes I got hungry and after 1 hour 35 minutes, I was ready to throw in the towel. Walking hurt this far into the run, so I kept running. However, I kept pushing myself to make it all the way back to my house. The result: 11 miles in 1 hour 45 minutes. I was very proud to have accomplished that and am now looking forward to the Disney World Marathon in January instead of dreading it.

Last week I also helped my best friend remodel her bathroom (again). Okay, so the first time really wasn't a remodel. Let's call it minor demolition for the purposes of functionality. That sounded official, right? Anyway, as I with the old remodel I knew this task was going to create more than I had planned for. Luckily, my other best friend was there to help. I actually feel like he did most of the work. We spent two very long days there (and he even went back when I left for Ohio). Her bathroom is so much better now. It makes me happy. (I'll post pictures later.)




I love my niece and nephew. It is so uncanny how much my nephew looks like me as a child. The picture on the left is my nephew. The picture on the right is me and my grandpa.

Me

Davey





















Saturday morning I woke up early so I could catch one of the last farmers' markets of the year. I went with my roommate Brennan and Jodi and Julie. It was soooooo cold (of course it snowed later that night). We had a blast. There weren't as many vendors as in the warmer climates, but it was still fun. We tried cheeses and honeys and hot sauces and breads. Ooh! we started the day out with a Belgian Waffle covered in warm chocolate and fresh cut strawberries. Mmmm...















And finally... a pet peeve. When I was getting supplies at both Lowe's and Home Depot I saw a sight that... well, I'll let the pictures convey what I saw:

I mean seriously! Christmas stuff out before the middle of October! It's kinda sad to think that Christmas has become so commercialized. *sigh* Happy Hallowe... er Merry Halloween?

To Blog or not to Blog?

It's amazing what a pretty face will do. Anyway, I've been inspired to try and keep this up, even if it's just a little thing here or there. In the past my blog has been more like a journal. Well, I think I'll make it a little more public and keep the truly private stuff for the journal.

I just returned from Alaska on Friday. It was surprisingly warm compared to when I was there in April. I arrived in Fairbanks last Monday after pretty much all day on planes or in airports. Tuesday, I went for a nice brisk run. I came prepared with all sorts of winter clothing because when I was there in April, it was -10˚. This time, in Fairbanks, it was about 25˚.
Here's a picture of the Fairbanks sunset outside my hotel room:



I spoke on Tuesday to some delightful, but small crowds and then went straight to bed because we were to wake up at 4:00am to go to the airport. In April, in the wee early hours of the morning, I was able to see Aurora Borealis (which is amazing) and was hoping to catch it again last week, but there were too many clouds this time. :(
I arrived in Anchorage and spent two more days there. We stayed at this hotel right by a small lake (I think it was man made) which contained a moderate amount of pontoon planes. The weather in Anchorage was a very nice 50˚ and was perfect for a morning run, minus so many layers.
Here's the lake with the sea planes:

I finished the evening with a very large crowd at the Hilton, and then killed some time in the concierge lounge before catching a 1:00am flight back home.

Heh

Heh. I find I say some pretty interesting things when I am tired. I think I get to a point sometimes where I'm so tired I let everything I'm thinking out, but I blow it out of proportion. I guess that's why God included this paragraph in my Patriarchal Blessing, "I exhort you to obtain your needed rest. Your body is corrupt; it is a mortal body and it needs it's required rest."
The truth is, life is great. I am very blessed, and I will continue to choose the right and serve the Lord. He has promised me many great things and I will do my best to be worthy of those great things.

Heavy Sigh

Do you ever find yourself in a position of liking someone a lot, but you settle for someone you only like a little because the first person is... not able to like you back?
Life is frustrating sometimes. I hope I'm doing everything right. I try to be a good person. I serve others and pray. But sometimes, no matter how right my life seems to be going, there is always something missing to make it complete. Will there always be this insatiable hole? Even when you fill it with the thing you think it should be filled with, with that just create an opportunity for another hole to open?

Christ-like... so that's what it means...

I was watching the American Gladiators Finale tonight (I just watch it for the articles). Anyway, I got really frustrated with all the commercials and flipped up two channels. There I encountered a show I catch every once in a while, but every time I watch that show I end up with tears streaming down my face. You know what I'm talking about if you've ever seen Extreme Makeoever: Home Edition.
First of all, can I just say that I want Ty Pennington's job. You know, I want to make people's dreams come true using an unlimited expense budget provided by Sears.
Second, can I just say that I do not have anything to complain about... ever. There is this 19-year-old boy named Patrick Henry Hughes who was born with no eyes and without the ability to fully extend his limbs. This video explains better than my words can:





After I finished wiping the streaks of tears gently flowing from my eyes, I went to my computer to see if I could find the song Patrick sang at the end of the show. I made my way to youtube and found several videos of Patrick and his inspiring words and accomplishments. And, as one does when surfing the internet, I started looking at other videos and found one I haven't seen in years. The story of Dick and Rick Hoyt.
A father with a quadriplegic son whom he takes on marathons, triathlons, and Iron Mans. He won't do them without his son.




I am so grateful for these examples in the world. The internet is used for foul practices quite often, but there is so much good to be known in the world.
I don't know a better way to show the meaning of "Christlike" or becoming like God. I can only imagine that God feels so much for us. I hope and pray that I can love all of my brothers and sisters like these great men love their sons.

He Hears and He Answers Prayers

I am so grateful for a God that hears and answers prayers. Several times this week I have been discouraged and every time God has heard and answered my prayers and lifted me up in the process.
I really did not want to go out here this week because of several reasons, but one main one being the fact that I have to ride with the road crew and my crew this week is a couple of very crass, rude people. Before I got here, I got down on my knees and prayed so hard that Heavenly Father would help me through; lo and behold, I got to Green Bay and who is the 3rd team member? He's the only LDS guy on the real estate road crew. I was so excited and grateful.
Instance number two was subtle, yet powerful. Stephen has a very bad mouth. I can't even understand what he is saying some of the time because of all the swearing (no exaggeration). I asked Heavenly Father to help me approach him about this matter without offending him. The next day I came into the ballroom and was ready to say something when Stephen said, "You know what, I should really watch my language around you guys, I know how it offends you." Wow.

Through the Ages

First post of this year... yeah, I know, kinda lazy. I've barely had time to breathe this year. I've been out on the road every week except the week that I got braces. I'm glad I had that week off because my braces are on the inside of my teeth and my tongue... well, that may be a whole different blog altogether.
One tradition I have is naming my journal something significant every year. I keep them in a folder called, "Through the Ages." This year seemed to take a little more thought than the rest. It's not that I'm running out of ideas, it's the fact that this year seems to hold something special for me. I'm not exactly sure what, but there's something about this year that... well, we'll see what happens.
Here is a recap of the past few years' titles:

2004 "A New Journey Begins"
2005 "To Infinity and Beyond"
2006 "What Dreams May Come"
2007 "The Winds of Change"

And, introducing the 2008 title: "I Will Go and Do".

I have a renewed resilience to serve others, to serve the Lord, to seek to find charity towards all. This has been the inspiration for this year's title.

This year's goals:

Personal:
-Finish my book I'm writing.


Physical:
-170 lbs by May 28th
-Get in shape to Swim the English Channel in 2009
-Take care of braces by brushing every day

Spiritual:
-Read BoM every day and write your thoughts about each chapter
-Write down one thing you are thankful for every day
-Get the family history onto the computer


Financial:
-Buy another house
-Be a successful book writer

Education:
-Read my “success library”
-Get Real Estate license
-Get 50% of CCIM done


Relationship/Emotional:
-Date more often
-Sincerely Compliment someone every day
-Step out of your "comfort zone" and let others in
-Concentrate on the positives of others and forget about yourself

I'm at an interesting point in my life. I have everything earthly thing I need to start a family (houses, furniture, income, kitchen items, office). But no earthly thing can fill the hole in my heart. I'm not trying to be dismal, nor do I feel it. What I feel is that there will always be something missing when I do not have someone by my side.


I was going through some of my different notes and such and came across several ponderings I had last here. I feel inspired to post them:

A. Have you ever been around someone and your heart seems to stop beating for a moment, then you look into her eyes and although there is so much going on around you, you forget that any of it exists; only you and her exist. Then you want to do your best to impress her and let the moment never end, hoping you can live up to the expectation, the magnificence that is embodied in her being. Her enchanting eyes hold you safely. They speak more than simple words, her eyes penetrate you, deeply embracing your soul.

B. If I were to have children I would let them run wild in the streets and feed the best raw meat money could buy. But first, I'd make them join the circus. One as a clown, one as a magician, and three on the flying trapeze (cause you need three for that ya know). The purpose of this is because I'd be too busy knitting the world's largest afghan and wouldn't have time for them until I finished.
Okay, the truth is that I don't know how I'm going to raise my kids exactly. I do know that I will bring them up in the gospel and there will come a time that they have to choose whether to follow that or not. I will pray and fast for them. I will love them. I will give them all that I can for them to be successful in their own lives. I will tell them and show them that I love them dearly. I will praise and compliment them and build them up. I think raising children is a learning process that takes experience. I will do the best I know how and take a lead from my own parents on what they know. Most importantly, I will make strong decisions with my wife. Now I know we may not always agree on the right course of action, but that is where the Spirit comes in. My wife will be the most important person in my life. The greatest men in this world were successful because they had a wife who loved them, pushed them to be their best, and supported them.

C. Life's deepest meaning is not found in accomplishments, but in relationships.

D. Love is a choice. It's not something that happens, it's a choice. Most of the time it may be a subconscious one, nonetheless it is a choice. Look at it this way, selfishness is the antithesis if love. Selfishness is also a choice. We can choose to serve ourselves or we can choose to serve others, it's our choice. Sometimes we may fall out of the habit of consciously making that choice and it defaults to our subconscious. Opposition in all things...

E. If you do not fear mediocrity, then you may as well be governed by it.

F. When we ponder on our childhood, we don't dwell on how big or little our house was, nor what kind of neighborhood we lived in. We dwell on our family and what we experienced with them.