Almost Done

This semester has been a busy semester, and having to blog and post every week did not help.  I don't know if I will ever tweet again, but I might actually keep the blog up for a while, we'll see how motivated I am.  The good news though, this semester is almost over!  So this week I was supposed to help out someone more stressed out than me.  I would of course wait until the last day to even think about this, but I did get it done.  I'm in the Young Men's Presidency, so every fast Sunday I get to help out with fast offerings, which has never been one of my favorite things to do.  So I grab one of the teachers and we head out on our route.  We make good time and before we know it, we make it back to the church, being the first ones to make it back.  The second counselor is there and tries to get us to go on one of the two routes that were left.  I didn't want to do it, thinking I just wanted to go home and be with my family.  However, I started thinking a little bit more.  The second counselor also has a family, a wife and three little girls, and I was sure he was just as anxious as I was for these routes to get done so he could get everything counted and get home, especially since it was Easter.  As I was thinking this, my attitude really started to change.  I started to realize that I was being selfish and I needed to help out where I could.  So the teacher and I grab another route, and with this new attitude, we cheerfully went around the second route collecting fast offerings.  It really did turn out to be a great learning experience for me in the end!

Beth's Big Move

So Beth has been enjoying walking around while we are holding her hands.  Ever since she has gone to California, she has wanted to walk more than she has wanted to crawl.  It makes things interesting, especially after we've walked her around for a little while and our backs are hurting from bending over so much.  So the other day, I was walking with Beth and Heather was sitting a little bit away.  So I asked Beth if she was ready, walked her a couple of more steps, and then let go fully expecting her to fall right down.  To Heather and my surprise, she took a two or three good steps and actually made it to Heather.  So, we of course had to try again, and she was able to walk back and forth between us a few times, even getting up to four or five steps all on her own.  I really can't believe how fast this little girl is growing.  She's pretty funny though, she gets stage fright and if we try to get her to do it in front of anyone, she just sits right down.  She really is a funny little girl!

Busy Week

So, I look back at this week and it seems a million years ago this week actually started.  Things started off busy with school.  I had some nice group projects followed by a midterm.  School has kept my pretty busy this semester seeming like there's always a big project or some test coming up.  I also came to the realization that Heather does a really good job at keeping me motivated.  She and Beth were down in California most of this week visiting Heather's brother who just got home from a mission in Brasil.  I found it very hard to do anything this week even though I had the house all to myself.  It's pretty amazing how a wife a kid will keep you motivated to get things done.  We did find out while Heather and Beth were in California, Beth is pretty terrified of grass, which I find pretty funny.

So Heather and Beth made it home on Thursday.  It was absolutely amazing to see how big Beth got in just over a week.  I couldn't believe it.  I love having them back in the house though, especially when I'm able to listen to Beth laugh, she really does have to best laugh in the world.

Our stake also had it's Spring Extravaganza this weekend.  So Saturday morning we get up and head over to Exchange Park for a 5k.  I had been debating the whole time if I would walk the 5k or just kind of wait at the finish line for Heather and Beth to finish.  I finally decide that it would do me some good to walk.  So we start going and make it to the halfway point and turn around and start to head back to the park.  So, I was feeling a little ambitious and, I know it's hard to believe, but I actually jogged some on the way back.  It felt good thought to get out and be active.  We decided to have some friends over later in the afternoon and have our first barbecue of the year, which was a great way to end the day.

Now the new week starts though, time to crack down and finish all of these projects for school.  Wish me luck!!

P.S.  A friend of ours who is studying photography at BYU-I took some pictures of Beth while they were in CA.  She took the picture of Beth in the grass and here are a few other she took.

My Big Surprise

Once a month, I have a scout meeting called Roundtable.  I'll be honest with you, I do get a little bored at those meetings, but I have been trying to have a better attitude about things, so I made it my goal to start attending them as often as possible.  This months Roundtable was actually going to be cut a little short because a district awards ceremony was going to be held right after.  I thought this was great, I would be able to go to a short Roundtable and then leave as soon as the awards ceremony started.  I thought it was going to be a great night.

So, a day or two before Roundtable, I get a text from the Young Men's President asking if I would be going.  I said I would, but would probably not stay for the awards ceremony afterwards.  He then preceded to ask if I would stay a little while after Roundtable to meet with a guy about some activity he wanted us to do.  I little disappointed that this would ruin my early return to home, I agreed to do it.  So I head to Roundtable and eagerly await the time when I could meet with the guy and then head home.  Roundtable ends and I wait with the President for this guy.  The awards ceremony is starting and the President tells me to just head into the gym where they are having it and he would continue to look for the guy because he couldn't find him.  So, I wait for a little while, but no sign of the guy.  I finally decide to head home, so I head to the door to tell the President I'm going to take off.  Well, as I reach the door, to my surprise I see my wife and little girl standing there.

Needless to say, I was pretty confused at that point.  So the President tells my that I just need to take my wife and girl and go and sit down.  So I don't know how it happened, but I did receive an award that night.  I received the Unit Leader Award of Merit.  It was quite a shock to me, but I was very honored that people were willing to recognize me with this award.  It was actually quite humbling.  The cool thing is, I have a new knot to put on my scout shirt that I have never seen anyone else wear before!

I was really surprised though at how my wife and others were able to keep it a secret from me, it really was a big surprise!

Busy Weekend, Turned Not so Busy

So, the weekend was set to be a really busy one.  I went to class Friday morning, then went to work right after that.  I got off around 3:00 and I was going to go to one of the events a group was putting on for my program management class.  I decided not to go, because I wanted some sort of break.  At 5:30 I got packed up and picked up the rest of the Young Men's Presidency in our ward and we headed up to a cabin for a leadership training camp out.  I need to be careful about what I say about the camp out though, only because I know one member of the Stake Presidency reads my blog (that's for you President Jaramillo)!  Truthfully though, it seemed like it had the makings to be a really good camp out.  However, soon after I ate dinner, my stomach started to act up a little and I had a hard time concentrating on what was said at the fireside that night.  I figured I would be fine in the morning, especially since I was able to sleep in a bed, however, it did not.  After losing what was in my stomach a little after I woke up, I tried to participate in the morning events.  I finally gave up and went and took a nap for a while.  I tried to eat some lunch, but my stomach still wasn't feeling the best, so we left early so I could get some rest.  So my busy weekend turned into a lot of time lying on the couch trying to feel better, even missed church today.  Tomorrow's a new day though, so let's hope for the best!