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Have you ever clicked on the next blog button on the bar at the top of the screen on your blog? I did and this is what I found:

the green-eyed monster

If I ever check out this one friend's wall on facebook I can't help but feel jealous and insecure. She's beautiful, successful, has way fewer kids than me (so her life is obviously easier than mine (that was sarcasm, if you didn't know)), is skinnier than me, has more money than me...I'm sure I can come up with more.

It's ridiculous, I know. It's juvenile, I know. It's like she makes me feel like I'm back in high school again with all those "Am I good/cool/skinny enough?" thoughts. I hate it. I have actually outgrown those insecurities. (Thank you, God!) But for some reason this one person drags it all back up again. The crazy part is that I'm completely aware of how skewed online personas can be, since most people only report the rosy everything's-going-good stuff. I know that everyone has crap they have to deal with and everyone has different strengths. We really can't compare ourselves since God made us all with unique purposes. That knowledge is all up in my head, but when she's on the screen, I can't feel it in my heart. So what to do?

Right now it's blaringly obvious to me that I need to get some Divine help. If anyone can get this ridiculousness sorted, it's Him.

And why did I even post this for the world to see? Ummm...the good answer is "If it just helps one person, it's worth it." Yeah, right. But the real answer is, "I just had to get off facebook because of her and I'm tired and should be in bed and felt like posting some honest/transparent stuff."

Nitey nite.

Post Semester Thoughts

I'm basically an Uncle. LJ and Kaylie had a baby on March 6th. It was a boy and his name is Gabe. Nelly called me the same day and said, "can you believe that LJ is in charge of another human being?" He also tried to convince me that Kaylie had twins, but I had seen the pictures from the ultrasound. A few weeks ago they blessed baby Gabe and they were definitely ready to be parents. They are awesome examples to me, but I am in no rush to get married or have kids that's for sure.

On the note of marriage, Bill is getting married on June 4th to Annie. Annie and I have a love hate relationship. She is stealing one of my best friends, but she makes him happy so I'm cool with it. I get to go to California for the wedding so that will be cool too.

Living with Mike Heder was quite the experience. I love that kid. On our last Sunday as roommates we were all up til three in the morning listening to Mike talk about aliens. We also talked about doing Humor U, he actually did it. I would of, but I had my late class on Wednesday, the night of try-outs. He actually got to perform in one of their shows too. I think I might go try out next time. Mike was also a good example when it came to a lot of things like persistence.

Some people just say the right things at the right time. This Summer I have to work for four hours in the morning and then I have a break and then I go back to work in the afternoon. I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Then I was talking to my Dad and he said he wished his work schedule was like that because then he could go running and do stuff in between. That was just what I needed to hear. I decided to start running, it's only been two days, but I'm hoping to keep it up.

Finals/Post Finals/Easter

Finals started last Saturday. I took one final on Saturday and then played soccer.

On Sunday I drew people at church and we had a lesson/discussion on marriage.

Monday I took another final.

Tuesday was spent studying for my history final.

Wednesday I got up at five something and went to take my history final. The first essay I totally owned, the second not so much. I had Laura and April look at my magazine design and they were a lot of help and a lot of fun. Wednesday night I turned in my magazine and spent touching up some paintings.

Thursday I handed in my paintings to end a long semester. Mark's parents were in town so we hiked the Y and went out to lunch. Thursday night Jessica made an awesome dinner and then Hannah, Tiana, Laura, Jessica and I went to see Parlor Hawk perform. They're good check them out here. I also did some packing and cleaning to get ready for the big move.

Friday was spent in frantic cleaning and packing to get ready for check outs. Goodbye King Henry, hello Moon Apartments. I went to a twenties party with some people. I have a tough time at parties where I don't know a lot of people, but I did eventually meet some pretty cool people. There was also live jazz music which was awesome. Dancing was fun too. After the party I watched Tangled with a bunch of girls. I think they enjoyed me singing along haha. I slept on the couch.

A week has passed since finals started. Today I went to the annual Stoddard family Easter egg hunt. I kept thinking that I had some homework that I had to do for Monday, but I don't, it's a great feeling. It's been a fun day despite having a lot on my mind. Wish my family could have been out here. Easter is one of those holidays that I think should be celebrated with the family. Right now I'm just doing my laundry and then I'll go to bed. I'm excited to draw people in church tomorrow and feel the spirit too of course. It's Easter! Jesus Christ is risen.

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

Starting fads...

Wearing a long sleeve shirt in lieu of wearing a sweatshirt. Wearing the same sweatshirt consecutive days is alright, hopefully I can get away with wearing the same long sleeve shirt consecutive days. It is basically the same except when you take off the one it takes up much less room in your backpack.

Ray Lamontagne

Can't get enough of this guy.

It's been a while since I've done this.

The semester is about over. Just got to take finals and I'll be done til September.

My family came out here a couple of weeks ago. We went to Moab for a couple of days. My dad, brother and I went skiing/snowboarding. It was great to have them here. Probably won't see them again until June or July.






















Conference weekend was awesome. I translated for the second time. Did the Saturday morning session. I did both the prayers and Elder Gonzalez's talk. You can check it out here. Ally McClain was in town. President Monson brought down the hammer during Priesthood session. Saturday night was April's birthday. Sunday, Laura and I went to Karen and John's and my Grandma's house, watched conference and hung with my cousins. We also went and saw Uncle Vai speak at the MTC, it was just what I needed. Don't know what I'd do without good friends.

I saw Tangled... four times. And plan on watching it a few more before returning it.

I went to my old ward's ward prom with Laura. The food, dancing and company were just what I needed.

Summer is around the corner, some Rita's would be nice.