Current mood: jolly
It has been a nice, lazy Christmas day indeed. I slept in a decent amount of time... I had a nice ripe dream falling out of unconsciousness into the waking smells of bacon and eggs... it was a nice transition indeed. The nice, Christmasy kind of transition that might even be worthy of a ribbon or a medal... in a strange, wake-up-out-of-a-nice-dream-togo-eat-delicious-breakfast kind of competition. I think this all sounds stupendously silly... but so what, it's Christmas! Yeah!
Anyway... I wrote a holiday letter this year, similar to my personal tradition which I started last year, and I thought I would share it here in my blog again. It includes more of my years overview than it did last time so I hope it helps to keep y'all a little more informed on my happenings and such if you happen to be interested. It has been an excellent year indeed so I hope it isn't too long or anything.
Holiday greetings,
This might get to people after Christmas but I've decided that's okay since the information isn't going to change much in the couple of days difference anyway. If this offends you please stop reading now... pick up your phone, and give me a call... I'll do what I can to ease the overdue holiday disappointment you must be feeling. Or I'll send you a cookie. A cookie that my mom made. It'll be delicious. Never mind that... I'll just eat the cookie. This is my Christmas letter to y'all for 2008. I've decided to combine a brief update of my year with my current thoughts of my testimony. I hope it's not too boring or strange! (since we all know how strangely boring I can be... ha.)
The year began with a couple trips to California and a pulled hamstring from playing basketball thinking I was about ten years younger and in the best shape of my life(a very flawed thought indeed.) All a bunch of fun in retrospect since trips, and physically painful experiences, often are. I had a decent amount of graphics work to keep me relatively busy so things seemed to be rolling along nicely, other than the hamstring thing... a ding ding... chicken wing... ha.
My work with Dish Network, as well as the needs of my main graphics client at the time, unexpectedly tapered out and I was out of work for an annoyingly long time(maybe about a month) due to the confusion about what was happening to the work. I started working at Kits Cameras part time just to get something at all, luckily already knowing that I would like the work anyway, and have happily enjoyed my tenure there since March as a salesguy/picture printer. It really feels good to feel like I can help people with something I know pretty well and actually get paid to do it. It has been a great blessing in my life for sure! Plus, I get discounts.
In late February or so, under the suggestion of my brother I picked up an inexpensive digitizer pen tablet for my computer. It's like a pen that makes it so I can more naturally draw on the computer... and I love it! I have become inspired to work on my illustration again. It is not only therapeutic but I think it actually looks pretty decent. I never knew I could do what I have been doing with it. I might even get to be pretty good at it if I am able to stick with it.
The summer started off with a Regional Young Single Adult Conference which was a lot of fun for the whole gang. I made a cartoon for the film festival which did pretty well so that was a fun experience and a lot of hard work well worth the effort. Throw in a few or so weddings that I got to either video tape or photograph, with lots of social interaction among friends on the weekends in a fairly typical summer kind of way, and the start of a brand new branch that meets about two minutes from my house, and I would call it a good summer indeed.
The fall started off a bit rough and I was not able to get started at Tech School as planned but I'll hopefully get that going in the spring, so I guess patience was the key ingredient to consume around that time. I was called to be the first counselor in the Elder's Quorum presidency of the new branch and have found it to be a great complement to an already great church going experience there. We have AWESOME leadership and loads(miniloads?) of cool people in our little unit of 50 or so, give or take. My scripture study, prayer, and focus on the temple have continued to bless my life in immeasurable and totally appreciated ways throughout this year and has been only better enhanced as I have enjoyed the opportunities of service in this new branch. It has so much awesome potential!
I enjoyed getting into costume for Halloween as the Skele-Tin Man and had a lot of scratching heads around me as people tried to figure out who was actually behind the silver facepaint. Thanksgiving was good to spend with the family and it was actually a nice transition into the retail madness that takes over the holiday spirit shortly thereafter. It's a good thing I really enjoy my work. I haven't had a reason to complain about it yet. Just days ago, on December 10th, I was blessed to have the opportunity to receive my endowments and make the related covenants in the temple. It has been something I have sought after in my life for quite some time and found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening experience. There is so much to be learned there! I look forward to a life of service there as I seek to follow my Savior's plan for me.
I know Jesus, the Christ lives. I know He loves me, and every other person who has ever lived. I know that He somehow performed the only possible act which enables mankind to return to live with Him and our Father in heaven, the atonement, which all may if they will, partake of in completeness and humility. I know that the words of the prophets found in scripture are the Lord's words to man outlining His plan for us, illuminating our spirits with the necessary truth to be able to return to Him as well as be happier people. I know that He teaches us through His prophets today, as well as in days past, and that through them He guides and directs the progress of His church on earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know that the gospel was restored by the Lord's guidance through the prophet Joseph Smith in these, the latter-days, and that it all was put into motion through an answer to his prayer as a young boy as he inquired about which of all the churches he was to join. I know that prayer is and essential and powerful element in one's life if it is consistently, humbly utilized in all things and that we will always receive answers to them. We can learn to better understand God's will for us, and those in our stewardship, if we will diligently act in faith on this principle. I know that faith is a real, and vital part of coming to know ALL truths of the gospel. I know that the trials we face are individually tailored to us for our benefit and improvement. I know that we can be blessed with actual hope if we pray for it even when we don't feel like we deserve it. I know that obedience to the commandments we have been given, as well as to the covenants we have made, always leads us to the greatest blessings available to us, and our power to further choose the positive consequences associated to any given commandment is increased. I know that Satan is real and truly, negatively effects our lives if we allow him to. He seeks our eternal destruction and tirelessly works to that end... he never gives up, which is why we too must never give up and endure to the end. I know that through the power of the atonement I will become a better servant, brother, son, friend, and future husband as I actively seek to apply it to all aspects of my life... that He will make me into something better than I could ever become through any other way... that I can one day return to live with Him. And I sincerely hope to see all of YOU there with me! YOU are the reason this earth was created by Him, therefore YOU are the reason I am here doing what I do. YOU need to know that! YOU are the greatest of all God's creations!
I thank you all for sharing your lives with me in whatever degree you have! You have helped me to become what I now am as the Lord has worked through you in so many ways. I know you all at many varying levels, from those I have recently met through to the family members who have known me longer than I have known myself, and you are all important to me. That is just the way God has designed this mortal existence to be and I thank you for joining me for the ride, from time to time. I love you all a great deal - truly one of the greatest blessings given me of the Lord - and hope for your greatest happiness and success in life. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all that you do and are!
This is merely a moment in time for us all. The Christmas holiday season of 2008. It will be gone in a blink if we don't take the time to think about what it really means to each of us individually. The focal point of it all, the reason we do what we do at this time of year, is a very personal, individual thing. May we all come to know Him better. May we have the courage and faith to commit, or recommit, ourselves to putting Him at the center of our lives. These things I leave with you, in the name of Him, my Savior Jesus Christ, amen.
I hope this Christmas has been an excellent one and that the new year to come treats you all kinds of good aplenty! Life is too good for just me to be having all the fun!
