Christmas at the Bay

Here are a few pictures from our trip to San Francisco on Saturday.

We learned that this bridge is actually named after the Golden Gate Straight, the  mile wide  straight that leads into the  San Francisco Bay. The straight was named in 1846, and the bridge was finished in 1937. 

Kim and Nate.

At Pier 39, right after some ginormous bread bowls with clam chowder.

The Birth of Thanksgiving

Abraham Lincoln is the founder of Thanksgiving and below is the text from the speech in which he announced it as a national holiday (right in the midst of the Civil War). I love that he says it should be a "Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens." Not just a day of any kind of thanks, but thanks and praise, to who?  To our God.  Reading this gives me a different perspective on the day (and makes me wonder where the traditional Pilgrims and Indians came from).

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United Stated States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

Abraham Lincoln

Turkey Bowl

The first year MBA students had a Turkey Bowl this morning, in a foot of fresh powder.  

We came, we saw, we conquered.  

Checkered by Failure

I was talking to a friend in the MBA program the other day.  She was a little down because she had been rejected by a company she had interviewed with for an internship.  She said to me "This is the first time I have interviewed for a job and not been offered it."  (Of course, that may sound a little arrogant, but I think she was just stating a fact and pointing out it was a new experience for her).  I responded, "Well then maybe you aren't taking enough risks in life." And we had a good little conversation about taking risks.

This morning I saw the following quote, one of my favorites, and it reminded me of the conversation with my friend.

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

- Theodore Roosevelt

I love this principle.  The principle that the worst place to be isn't last place, but sitting at home watching the race on TV, wondering how you could have done, and what you might have accomplished if you had only tried.  

So often we don't try because of fear.  What we need isn't more physical strength or more intelligence, it is more faith, and more trust in a loving heavenly Father.  The following quote has helped me have more faith.  

“God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as he always has.  But he can’t if you don’t pray, and he can’t if you don’t dream.  In short, he can’t if you don’t believe.” - Elder Holland

So, in the end, I think the rejection my friend received was actually a great success.  She had the faith to try, and the faith to move forward.  By the way, she just emailed me letting me know she has an offer from another company for an internship.  

Sunday Morning

I woke up this morning with a smile on my face (figuratively speaking, of course), and decided to go for a little walk around my neighborhood. I live in the very south-east corner of Provo, so it only takes me a few minute to be up high enough to see the valley. I put on some basketball shorts, a sweatshirt and my slippers and ventured out. At first I thought "this could be a little embarrassing if I see people I know", then I realized most of the people I know are still sleeping at this time Sunday mornings.

The air was crisp and everything was still.  I thought about my life a little, about what will happen in the next year, how school will go, what graduate schools I want to apply to, what I would like to focus on in my research, etc. Then I came across a pumpkin patch just up the hill from where I live! I got really excited for Halloween and Thanksgiving. There were some nice pumpkins, I think I will go back and see if they are for sale. Then as I started back down the hill I was struck with how beautiful everything was. The moon was low over the west horizon, making it appear extra large and very white. The leaves on a group of trees next to me spanned the entire yellow-green spectrum, in order. They just flowed together from one tree to the next. Last I noticed the light breaking onto the back side of the Wasatch mountain range. It reminded me of all the accounts in the scriptures of prophets climbing mountains to be with God. They truly are a place of light.

 That was my Sunday morning walk.

 Also, if anyone is interested in what is currently going on in my life, the following offers a comprehensive summary (if that is not an oxymoron, then I don't know what is).

• 17 graduate level credits 
• midterms around the corner
• blind dates (I've almost set a new world record)
• string cheese, apple sauce, and granola bars 
• teaching temple preparation

Yellowstone

For the last couple of weeks I have been on an extended vacation.  I ended my job with England Logistics on July 20 and have been traveling ever since.  First I went up to Port Angeles, Washington with my parents to visit Michelle and Trevor.  We went to the beach, played in the river, ate pizza, and watched the Olympics.  Need I say more?  Then we went south to Yuba City and I spent a couple days enjoying the sun and seeing old friends.  

When I flew back to Utah last Tuesday, I had two days before going on the road again to see the sights at Yellowstone National Park.  There were 11 of us (all friends from Salt Lake) that went up there to a family cabin in Island Park for the weekend.  We had such a great time!  Here are some pictures from the Park.

Bison.

Mammoth Hot Springs (which is drying up)

Yellowstone Grand Canyon, just above the Lower Falls (that is the mist from the Falls you see at the bottom)

More of the Yellowstone Grand Canyon, beautiful huh?

On the drive home, just before we got to the West Entrance.  Amazing.  

Can't remember the name, but some of the most brilliant colors I have ever seen in a body of water.  Very cool. 

Junior

Meet Junior.

Meet Juniors hair.

Meet the clippers.

 

Junior's hair, meet the clippers.

Doesn't he look sharp?

Kim and Dave's Big Adventure

This is the moment you have all been waiting for! Actually, if you use Facebook you have likely already seen the pictures that are included in this link. However, I recommend checking out the link even if you have already seen the pictures. This link will take you to a Google map that maps out our trip through Italy and Switzerland.

If you zoom in to each city you will see the actual locations that we took the pictures in. Click on the red bubble to see the picture along with a few comments and a link to learn more about the place. We started in Rome and spent three days there. Then we went north to Florence for a day or so, then traveled to Cinque Terre, stopping in Pisa on the way (we were only there for about an hour and a half to take pictures and see the tower). Cinque Terre is really made up of five little towns on the coast, and you can see that in the pictures. Then we went up to Switzerland for a day and half . We stayed in Bern but flew out of Zurich. Very good decision, we loved Bern. Enjoy!

I apologize in advance that the vertical pictures don't fit inside the info window. I tried, but didn't have the time to figure out how to get it to work. I also recommend viewing this in Google Chrome. Click here if you don't have it.

Click here to see the map

He is Risen

This Easter season I want to share with my family and friends briefly my belief about Jesus Christ. For thousands of years men and women have prophesied, taught, and recorded their belief that the Son of God would come down from heaven to live with men and ultimately die for them as well, only to live again. He was not speaking figuratively when he said "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). To think that death is not the end is the one of the happiest thoughts I think I have. To think that I can be worthy to live with God again when that day comes, makes that thought that much sweeter. I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is the Living God.

Additionally, here is a clip from a talk Elder Holland gave.

Politicking

This last Thursday night I had the opportunity to attend our Republican caucus. It was the first such meeting I have ever been to, and I really didn't know what to expect. I initially thought about attending because I simply wanted to learn more, and my roommate was running for state delegate and wanted me there. Then Elder Cook of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged us in a CES fireside to attend our caucus. Then (as the final nail in the coffin) there was a letter from the First Presidency in Sacrament meeting last Sunday asking us to participate in such meetings. I'm pretty thick sometimes, but luckily I was paying enough attention this time to know I need to be more involved in the political process.

So what was it like? Well we met at a high school, and there were about 65 of us from our precinct. Our precinct chair ran the meeting fairly well despite the fact that it lasted 2 1/2 hours. We voted for state and county delegates and each nominee was given an opportunity to tell about themselves, followed by a Q&A. It was very educational.

I learned that it is much easier to get involved in politics than I previously thought. Maybe I am still naive, but it seems to me that you don't have to be anything special or have a lot of money to make a difference on a local level.

I learned that there really are a lot more people out there that feel the same way I do about our country than I thought there were.

I learned that there is a spirit associated with politics. You may smirk at that, and think "there sure is a spirit in politics, but not the kind you feel at church...", but I really believe that the spirit of patriotism motivates us to get involved. Can anyone who truly loves our country be indifferent toward the men and women that are chosen to govern its affairs?

Leaving the caucus I felt a desire to do more and know more about what is going on. If you haven't read section 134 of the Doctrine and Covenants lately, I suggest taking some time to study it. What struck me the most was the first verse,

"We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society." Doctrine and Covenants 134:1

If you have any suggestions for me on how to know more or do more, please leave a comment!

A DPH Update

I realize it has been months since I have posted anything on my blog. Here is my update:

1) At the end of January I flew to Arizona to interview for the MBA program at ASU. It was a quick trip but tons of fun. I surprised Kim (her roommate Katie picked me up from the airport and snuck my into their apartment). Here are some good times from that trip.


Notice that Grant's pizza is twice the size of mine. I'm certain he ate more than me that night.


The interview was actually not that great. They had an entire day event that included a tour, sitting in on a class, eating lunch with current MBA students, and an informational session, and then the interview at the end. I enjoyed everything but the actual interview. It just felt a little strange. But that was why I made the effort to go down, to "study it out".

The good news is that the very next day I had an interview with BYU. Which went very well, and leads me to my next DPH update...

2) I will be starting the MBA program at BYU this August. It is a full time program so I will be leaving my position at England Logistics in July. My current plan is to study Supply Chain Management (operations) and minor in Information Systems. Go Cougars!


3) The last DPH update includes my sister Kim, who I will be traveling to Italy with this May. I've never been outside of the continental U.S. so I am very excited. We will fly into Rome and leave from Zurich, so if any readers have been to Italy or Switzerland, we are looking for suggestions!