Here Comes The Sun

Today has been awesome! I got part 1 of my missionary physical completed at the BYU medical center, which means they did a Tuburculosis test, stole my blood, and inserted all manner of precarious sharp instruments under my skin! It was kinda odd, when I was sitting next to the immunization lady she felt obligated to show me a candid camera youtube video that her sister had sent her on her email. It was pretty funny, I guess. It was these people wheeling a coffin into an elevator when someone else was in there and the old man pretending to be dead falls out and the people in there scream. I mean it was funny, but not as funny as she was laughing! I got my shot, and luckily the immunizations lady only wrote down like 15 more shots that I need in the next 6 months haha. AWESHOME!!!! (Side note; hearing little babies get shots is physically painful. The poor things don't even know what is happening to them and as I was sitting in the waiting room I hear a shrill shriek - I know its neccessary and I went through the same thing, but it just made me think that being a baby shot giver is not my occupation)

On the walk back it was basically pouring down rain, which made me feel right at home. It was a homage to Vancouver, Washington, the land from which I hail. This car pulled up to the sidewalk as I was walking and 4 old ladies (I'm guessing 85+) asked me where the Museum of Art was. I obliged, and told them where, and said I hope they all enjoyed the Carl Bloch exhibit. I really like old people, they are so funny. This is a weird blog post, I have addressed both babies and old folks. What an assortment of demographics I have seen today!!

Well, its Monday anywho...Brigitta, Gemma, Mom, Dad if you are reading this I hope you are having a fantastic day. Brigitta call me sometime! Gemma, you too! Or just take Dad's phone and text me on it Gemma, the last time you did that I about died laughing, I even saved the text; "Hey Carson its gemma what do you like i like cheese pie so im gonna send now". <-- Best. Text. Ever.

Ummm...anything else to write about today? I don't think so! I had a great weekend filled with Gymnastics at University of Utah, Ice Skating, a soccer game, watching the BYU basketball game, and a great fireside from L. Tom Perry! It was glorious weather on Saturday during our soccer game! I even saw this...random!

I've been singing this song in my head all day;

Things I Believe In

Yesterday in church we were having fast and testimony meeting. My ward is ridiculous; the second the second counselor says, "the time is now yours for the bearing of testimonies," about 25 people just dart up to the front. It's insane because we went about a half hour over, and I'm sure we could have gone another half hour if we needed to. Fast and testimony meetings are always so spiritual, I just randomly thought at one point during the meeting that I am so lucky to be in this church. I know so many things to be true - and I started writing them down in my notebook:

1. Thomas S. Monson is the one true prophet that can communicate with the Lord on the Earth today.
2. Through the atonement, Christ took the responsibility of all the pains, sins, and sorrows that we can, and will go though, or even imagine in this mortal life. He did this because he loved us so dearly.
3. Joseph Smith was the first prophet of this dispensation and was a tool in the Lord's hand to restore the gospel.
4. The Priesthood is the strongest power on this Earth, it can heal, bless, and allow's those who are righteous to act in God's name if they are faithful.
5. Families can be together forever.
6. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ and is the truest book on the face of the Earth today.
7. You are sealed to your eternal companion for time and all eternity.
8. The temple is the house of the Lord where work is done for those who are unable, where we are able to bring others to the gospel if they so choose.
9. With fervent prayer and supplication to the Lord he can and will reveal personal revelation that we need to get through life's burdens.
10. Testimonies are recorded in Heaven for time and all eternity every time they are bore.
11. Leaders are spiritually guided to help those around them.
12. Knowledge is an amazing gift of God. It is the only thing that we can retain for ourselves on this earthly ministry and can take with us to heaven.
13. Death is not the end, we can achieve our place in the celestial kingdom and live and walk with God if we do our part here.
14. By consecration of our time, resources, and energy to the work of the Lord, we can achieve our full potential in Christ.
15. The spirit manifests itself to us when we are righteous.
16. A patriarchal blessing is a guide to us if we choose to keep the commandments and can show us what we can be blessed with and achieve in this life if we want to do so.
17. In heaven, we chose to follow Gods plan as the 2/3 hosts of heaven.
18. People can change through the process of repentance. People can always make themselves better if they repent and commit to change.
19. Through grace we can strive to achieve perfection, but only with the help of the Lords omnipotent hand.
20. Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father have bodies like we do. We are created in their likeness.
21. The bible is a true book and is meant to go hand in hand with the Book of Mormon.
22. Every young man should serve an honorable full time mission, nobody is above it and it should be a top priority.
23. Mom's really do possess intuition and are always there for you.
24. Stand if you must for what you believe in, but stand.
25. The Lord created all that is around us, he created planets without end and the atonement is as real on those planets and exists as strongly as it does here.
26. The quorum of the twelve apostles are ordained of God and lead and guide us in the latter days.
27. The Lord loves children, they exude joy and happiness.
28. If we pay our tithing we are blessed more then the sacrifice of paying 10% of our income may seem at the time.
29. Music can enrich and entice the spirit within us, conversely it can be a detriment and can destroy the spirit in a person or a room.
30. Satan works hard on those he knows are succeeding and who he knows have a big role to play in the time to come.
31. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins is vital for our eternal salvation.

Those were all I managed to write down in Sacrament meeting yesterday, but there are so many other things I believe in too. I am blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The Big Green Jalapeno

BYU is such a random place sometimes. You can be up late one night, look out your window, and find a giant green jalapeno wearing a sombrero dancing for you. I was in shock...I didn't even know what to think. Lucky I had the forethought to open my window, say "Stay there!" and go out and get some pictures. Turns out I know the person under the suit too haha. 

WWJD?

I was texting my old Teacher's quorum advisor/Sunday school teacher today when he asked me what happened to Brandon Davies on the BYU basketball team. Allegedly he was kicked off the team for breaking the honor code, and I told him that. His reply was, "I forgive him. It's what Jimmer would do." Hahahaha!!!! Best text ever.

The Graf's are the BEST.

You may recall I posted this picture that I drew awhile back when I was bored in astronomy? Yeah, well Brother and Sister Graf from my home ward in Vancouver, Washington (we go way back, even back to deacons quorum when Bro. Graf took us camping to scout camp and what not - good times) took that picture and put it on a plethora of T-shirts and sent them to me! How amazing is that? That is seriously so thoughtful of you guys. I could hardly believe my eyes when I opened the box and inside was tons of Lay's chips and T-shirts! I even got a "free hugs" shirt that was apparently slipped in there by Eli. Thanks bud! I love that shirt! This was a great package to get in the mail, I owe you guys! Thanks again!!! Its a cool shirt because it looks all sketched on and original. Pretty bomb.com! 

 Now I have more chips than I can eat! 

I took some time to model them with my "This is so amazingly awesome" face. I like the red one, even though it looks orange in the picture. 

Sometimes I play a odd game with myself whenever I am bored walking to a class on campus. You normally overhear certain conversations just from walking on a campus so big; that is a given. But sometimes I string the pieces of one conversation with that from another. The end result can be pretty ridiculous.

"So Nephi was in my book of Mormon class.....I tried to get a date but....our apartment smelled like burnt popcorn.....my wife wouldn't talk to me....but I was working on the assignment and....my car wouldn't start"

It's just funny because your mind focuses on certain conversations as they pass by without you even knowing it. Try it, you never know what you will overhear.

My Family Loves Me!

I got the best letter in the mail today. When I got the tube in the mail I didn't know what it was but suddenly this rolled up sheet of butcher paper rolled out and exploded all over my table full of wonderful comments from my family back at home in Vancouver, WA. Thanks Mom, Dad, Gitta, and Gemma, you really made my day today!!

Oh Jimmer.

Led us to victory over #4/6 (depending on your poll) San Diego State university. He is just a man among boys. The refs were turned against him, he was being double and triple teamed, but he still scorched them and torched them. He never stops burning up, just like the olympic torch. He never stops going, just like the energizer bunny. He flies through the air like a graceful hawk descending on his pray. He dribbles the ball like a baby dribbles drool down its face. He is a MONSTER. 

I got most of this stuff here. , a really funny blog by a BYU student.

For those of you who don't know who "Michelle" is, it's probably because you do not attend BYU. You can read up on it, here.

Have a good day!

Night Shots

I was feeling a little down in the dumps a couple of nights ago, it just didn't seem like anything was going my way. I was caught up in the drama that life always seems to throw at you. I got some good counsel last night from my Mom; "Carson, when you are grown up doing bigger and better things, helping people and being the best you can be, you will look back at these times and just laugh. It always is tough when you are in the middle of it, but just elevate yourself and look down on the situation and ask yourself if it is really important to make a big fuss about it. If it isn't, just stand back and laugh." That night, I went on a walk just to separate myself from life and ended up randomly taking artsy pictures of where I was. It was actually really enjoyable and now I have some cool pictures of the bell tower and things around it. I am lucky to have such great friends here that always come and cheer me up too when I am feeling down. Anyways, just enjoy my randomness!

Disco Pose OooooOOhhhhhhh yeah.

I like the eerie green light...

This is the Marriott center btw.

Sometimes it's hard.

Sometimes it's hard to live life when it seems nothing is going in your favor.
Sometimes people say things that make you unbearably sad.
Sometimes no matter how much you know with a surety that you are who you are, people fill in their own blanks.
Sometimes people sit high and mighty on their thrones and look down on people around them.
Sometimes people say you are diseased and can't be around people because you are 'claustrophobic' around them, when in reality you are laden with a virus that no matter how mentally alert and strong you are it won't let you have any energy.
I wish that people could look at their own shortfalls before they judge others.
I wish that my Mom could better so people could see for themselves how amazing she is.
Get better Mom, you have a friend in me.

Love,

Carson