Home - 4th of July

Today was a pretty sweet 4th of July. I went to the Tempe firework show with a group of people. The day started off however by going to John’s house whom is a friend of Drew more than he is with me. It was kinda fun playing volleyball in his pool and just messing around once I got comfortable. It was a different experience though. Then I went to the Hodgins house to see if Kaylee and Kristin wanted to go with me to the Tempe firework show, but they didn’t so I just left about an hour and a half later. I ended up bring home a sunburn though on my shoulders and neck. I was afraid of that, and wasn’t really careful, but it happens to the best of us… especially Irish. The fireworks were great as usual and I’m certainly glad I went.

Home - What happens when I get bored

When I get bored I decide to make videos like this:

Home - Dealing with Integrity

Yesterday’s big-church service message was on integrity in the workplace. The whole time during the service I really thought that I could have knowingly falsified my FAFSA in favor of receiving a Pell grant. Although I could have gotten free money, the spiritual repercussions and the possibly exposure repercussions would have been devastating. I took the step to call Ozark and find out the correct procedure to fix it, and it worked out well. So the verdict is that I am now not eligible for the Pell grant, but that I can sleep better knowing that I am more right with God.

UCYC Jr. High - 1st day

Today is the first day at camp, and it has been a good one. I went mountain biking for the first time since I went with Chris Hedrick and fell right on a cactus. It was fun, but there was a lot of stop and go action going on because of people falling off; I was included in that too. I did go across some tree width bridges and made them 1st try and then a sweet jump at the end. I also got some footage of people going across the last jump.

I saw Nick down at lower camp when we went for breakfast and it was awesome! I also saw the kiddos, Danielle, Angela and Adam Hofmann.

On Thursday our church has the paintball field to ourselves for 4 hours. I totally brought my gun so I’m super stoked.

Summer has been great, but I still don’t have a job and I’m still praying about that; trusting in God every step of the way.

Home - Yesterday was a Great Day

I had a great day yesterday. It was just good. I woke up at 9am and watched a couple hours of Burn Notice on TV then went to donate plasma. I hardly ever watch TV, but since it was on I just watched it. I ended up bringing my Communicating for a Change book with me that I hadn’t started until yesterday and read some really funny things in the first 44 pages. I came home and had KFC with my family and I rode in the Boxter with my mom to get the meal; the ride was really nice. Then I just lounged around I guess and decided to go running at 8:30pm and then came back before the new Burn Notice and Royal Pains show debut. I don’t know what single handedly made my day, but it was probably just doing things different, like reading and actually watching TV that made it significant.

Speaking at Church today

Today has been an all over day for me. It has been one of the greatest times I have ever spoke and it has been a butt kicker in other aspects.

Today I gave a 5 minute testimony about the power of the Word of God. I told the kids that I wasn’t raised Christian, and I remember reading the Word of God when I got a Bible. I was reading Proverbs and was told by another Christian at the Bible study that he thought it was really cool that I was reading the Bible more than them. I always had this passion for knowing more of God’s Word. I went to college at ASU for computer stuff and still wanted to know more. So after ASU I went to Ozark to spend time learning more about God’s Word. The verses that we were talking about were Matthew 7:24-27 and how the foolish man builds his house on the sand but the wise man builds his house on the rock. I told the kids that I didn’t have that foundation growing up that they were getting, so that’s why I was going to Ozark, was to get something that I missed growing up. Just before I finished I told the kids that I thought they were the luckiest kids on earth, because they get this biblical foundation now, before they are all grown up and to not take God’s Word for granted.

At the 10:45am service a lady came up to me and smiled and thanked me for speaking. She said that it was exactly what she has been dealing with and that I nailed it right on the head for her. This was also the same lady that Angela came up to me and asked me if I knew what her name was, because neither of us has seen her there before. She was sitting in the back with a younger kid, which was presumably her 4th-6th grade son, and came up after I passed by her. It was probably the neatest thing I have experienced when I spoke.

But what rips something like this comment down to nothing?

When I see people who are doing what I would like to end up doing later in life, but they are doing it at a younger age. I get jealous and almost want to start growing up quickly. I just need to learn to let life take me where I need to be. Sure it’s alright to be mature and start taking responsibility and initiative. But as my brother said either extreme is bad, and that the middle ground is usually the best option. I just have dreams that die hard, and I strive to make them a reality, but stuff interferes.

Ozark - Semester End

This semester has been fun, challenging, and just time that I spent finding myself amidst life. I certainly think I have achieved that, even though the finding myself is not done yet. I learned a lot my first semester and am excited to go back to learn even more.

Some things I have learned this semester is the difference between being rude and being assertive, and how to be assertive.

I learned that some are there at Ozark to get their MRS and some are there to study.

I learned how conservative people can be in the US, and now know that I am not conservative compared to them.

I learned the value of my parents and close friends, and how irreplaceable they are.

I learned how extremely shy I can be when amidst people I don’t know.

I learned that people can be totally different in situations where they are away from their home. Or maybe it’s just that I spent so much time with them that I saw a different side of them, maybe a more responsible side.

Overall I learned a whole ton, and am glad the semester is over, so I can be with those whom I call close friends and party it up awaiting for next semester in Arizona.