tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34221568839691759712024-03-12T17:10:42.796-06:00What now?Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-75890221785672153682016-07-08T10:16:00.000-06:002016-07-08T10:25:53.129-06:00I'm not _______ enough. I've watched this week turn into a roaring hell for many people other than myself. It seems like no matter what the source of the pain is, whether grossly self-inflicted as myself or from a place beyond what our own hands can stop, several of us have come to an ultimate "What now?"<br />
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Beyond any books I've read or education I've attempted to internalize, I'm really just an ordinary boy with dreams and lots of really, really rough edges. My thoughts aren't from a place of perfection or mastery but a place that's far from any of that. Take this and anything else of what I have to say with a grain of salt because I'm no Nobel peace prize winner or have a doctorate in research. So, what now?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">For the self-inflicted</span><br />
As I've struggled to stay afloat from jumping in and nearly drowning in my own mistakes (and let's make that clear, I'm and idiot, not a victim), I've noticed that the pool that I've jumped into is the pool of shame.<br />
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I believe that shame--the fear of not being worthy of loving connection--is at the heart of all sin and where Satan and all darkness lives. It plays the tape of "I'm not ______ enough." in our heads that leads us to anger, sadness, greed, lust, and probably the worst of all, dishonesty. When we listen to shame, we try to prove it wrong even though there is nothing to be proven.<br />
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When we try to prove our worth to shame, we lash out in anger or rebellion at someone to prove we are powerful enough; we greedily overcompensate, in even good things, to prove that we are worth enough; we indulge in immoral behavior to prove that we are appealing enough; and we dishonestly manipulate, control, predict, and perfect to prove that we are good enough.<br />
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If you're here with me now, hurting from the exhaustion and loss from doing these things--take my hand.<br />
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No matter what you've done and where you are now, you are not a problem. You are not defined by situations. And you are not at the end. Your worth is unchanging, eternal, and holds more beauty than you can comprehend. There are no words that can undo the past or take away pain or loss. I'm not going to pretend that any words I have can have such magical effects.<br />
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Know that running from vulnerability and giving into the lies of shame means believing in promises that won't ever be fulfilled. Compromising your character to try to prove in harmful ways that you are enough to someone, so that you can somehow then be worthy of their love and connection, will only do the opposite.<br />
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It is horrifying to have courage to let yourself be vulnerably seen and do what is right. Yet if we do and believe that we are enough, it is inevitable that we will eventually find connection, love, and acceptance. I know that that is true.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">For the innocent and betrayed</span><br />
My heart goes out to you. I wish that you didn't have to feel pain that you don't deserve.<br />
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All experiences are different, and I can't equate mine or say that I know exactly what you're going through, but I can say that we can realize that there is always healing hope when we choose to be grateful and love. There is no reason to cut open emotional wounds to bleed any more than they already are yet I also don't want to minimize the seriousness or complexity of any situation or say that you shouldn't be sad or upset for things or those who have harmed you. My thoughts are only to say that in these times of excruciating pain, we can treat and heal these wounds by choosing love and gratitude daily. These things are sure.<br />
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I wish that we didn't have to go through sorrow to learn sometimes but the truth is that no matter how unfair the situation, the lessons that we can learn from experiencing such low moments are extremely beautiful and of immense and eternal worth. I would much rather live in a world where I was prone to pain and loss than be in a place without the color and excitement the love and joy bring.<br />
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So please smile, because heaven knows that the world can always use on more smiling face. The life of every single person is precious to God. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.<br />
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<br />Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-1947578804380512522016-04-25T08:00:00.000-06:002016-04-25T08:00:38.210-06:00Stop Loving, Stop Hurting<br />
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This time of the year is always the most difficult for me. I love change--don't get me wrong, but the process, the in-between of the old and the new that takes some stretching and adjusting, is never comfortable and almost always painful. The end of winter semester is always bittersweet. It's a relief but it's also very sad. It means lots of goodbyes, some for a really long time, and some for just long enough to hurt. And the sting about it, as with any other change, is that it all happens so fast.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDKcw8cxU5cZVlgntiJYz9dLmyQqiYterUIYLIyE9Nl2qv68M50MpJJyAWk0VUUfRg7U63kVamvq2AaBCScv2hIXP6mxdUEbTFPdz4rpB2wDKcrUT0RxpXdusA4ofttHSsh241exAJYE/s1600/IMG_0962.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDKcw8cxU5cZVlgntiJYz9dLmyQqiYterUIYLIyE9Nl2qv68M50MpJJyAWk0VUUfRg7U63kVamvq2AaBCScv2hIXP6mxdUEbTFPdz4rpB2wDKcrUT0RxpXdusA4ofttHSsh241exAJYE/s320/IMG_0962.jpg" /></a>Here's the thing about me that often complicates things if you don't already know. I'm an "all-in" person when it comes to relationships. I don't look at the love I have to give as an 8-piece pie, I don't believe that I only have so much to go around and I'll eventually run out of love to give people. I'm someone who believes that every friend you have can be your best friend and love as freely as I can. I ugly-cry when it's time to part and dread goodbyes more than any other possible human experience.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1HjwayIVTAW8clS9a5mO56UH2xKw-QM2M0aULn5OJ7c-EDVcp5tUnfbgBtF5z3wzw-UJdg-qbyJQqwGBalzdk4-DqndeSYJZLrvzMTcQNXc3YLCJxxKAa341wMLa1BaImdnpN_PD3wc/s1600/IMG_1007.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1HjwayIVTAW8clS9a5mO56UH2xKw-QM2M0aULn5OJ7c-EDVcp5tUnfbgBtF5z3wzw-UJdg-qbyJQqwGBalzdk4-DqndeSYJZLrvzMTcQNXc3YLCJxxKAa341wMLa1BaImdnpN_PD3wc/s320/IMG_1007.JPG" width="256" /></a>I came to a point this week where it hurt too much. It may seem bizarre, but Beyond Measure and my roommates are my two families away from home--they're my best friends. I spend anywhere between 10-20 hours a week with BYM and while I get that not everyone is close with their roommates, my roommates this semester have been the biggest blessing in my life through one of the most difficult times I've gone through. I looked forward to coming home every night to spend time with them because they were my best friends. The people around me are my life. Relationships are everything to me.<br />
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I got to that point that I always get to at goodbyes when I hate love. I hate caring. I hate friendships. I hate trying my best to be a good friend. I ask myself why I allow myself to be so invested in people and friendships when they inevitably make you hurt. Life would be much easier if I just had surface-level relationships with everyone around me that never got too emotionally involved either way--for the good or bad. Is it really worth it to love?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span><br />
<br />
In <i>Rising Strong</i> by Brene Brown, Brene says that when we step into an arena of life, where we need to be vulnerable, the only guarantee that we have is that we will get hurt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR17cGvrZjTXblImlhh9A0a1AEi4fzhOK-kmddaDX94HiOW861V9v19M0XDSXs-IOQhyphenhyphen0_or4mfUpkXW5zvnX0wFGq4bxexLLtTJYF8nAD3kZRytpGUPPAmcwZY78VciLG5AnL7juekxs/s1600/IMG_3640.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR17cGvrZjTXblImlhh9A0a1AEi4fzhOK-kmddaDX94HiOW861V9v19M0XDSXs-IOQhyphenhyphen0_or4mfUpkXW5zvnX0wFGq4bxexLLtTJYF8nAD3kZRytpGUPPAmcwZY78VciLG5AnL7juekxs/s320/IMG_3640.JPG" /></a>To love completely, you have to be vulnerable and risk everything. The caveat with love is that there will be a period of absence at some point--no matter what. Situations are always changing--people graduate, get new jobs, and sadly pass away. And then there are the more painful situations where people change or relationships you would like to be different, aren't mutually benefiting. Whatever it might be, when you love plan to be hurt.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span><br />
<br />
Here's the thing that I wish we could all understand--it is okay not to be okay. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being sad. There is nothing wrong with being depressed. There is nothing wrong with missing someone. There is nothing wrong with hurting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm5-qYRGOCArJCJ-zqckFfwNN42HKO9MSNsKKpkM5HQoptYpfoSXTLc3PT9Ee1k4hSk2Sf8nawWmUXApy7UjnYoPU8D9c8z9gd-EDmnimnJQIFNpVUakUZUJ-hwJ7ELuT21r58mRGMhc/s1600/DSC00819-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm5-qYRGOCArJCJ-zqckFfwNN42HKO9MSNsKKpkM5HQoptYpfoSXTLc3PT9Ee1k4hSk2Sf8nawWmUXApy7UjnYoPU8D9c8z9gd-EDmnimnJQIFNpVUakUZUJ-hwJ7ELuT21r58mRGMhc/s320/DSC00819-1.jpg" /></a>I cringe when people give the whole you can choose to be happy thing because I disagree and academic research (See <i>Authentic Happiness</i> by Seligman) would support me. Happiness is not a switch you can flip. In fact, to always be happy would be completely contrary to the plan that God has created for us to be able to pass through sorrow to understand true joy. I think what people mean is that you can choose to be positive and make the situations you go through <i>meaningful</i>,<i> fulfilling</i> experiences. I think if we were to assess the lives of people that we thought were genuinely happy, we would find that their lives weren't 100% <i>happy</i> all the time but 100% <i>meaningful</i> and <i>fulfilling</i>.<br />
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That being said, while parting and going through changes in life will never be easy, I'm more than willing to go through those times of transition and pain to be able to hold on to the experiences that come with loving with your whole heart. It's scary and it's painful and there are no guarantees, but the moments that I have to cling to with the people that I love are irreplaceable.<br />
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And while that doesn't make me hurt or miss people any less, I have never regretted loving someone. In a world drowned in pain today, you truly can't say you love too much.<br />
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Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com1Provo, UT, USA40.2338438 -111.6585337000000240.0399588 -111.98125720000002 40.427728800000004 -111.33581020000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-11949696684035961642016-02-07T23:30:00.000-07:002016-02-07T23:57:41.914-07:00Good for NothingI can't believe it's been nearly two years since I've sat down at my computer to paint my feelings naked as letters on a screen for every person I know to see. A lot has changed but a lot hasn't.<br />
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I went through the most serious relationship I've ever been in for, essentially, 18+ months. My boys, best friends that were all just barely starting to date that I just mentioned in blog posts before are all now married and across the states. I competed at nationals for a cappella three times. I started my major. I went through a great internship with Seagate. I have a full-time job now at Qualtrics... life is very different now--at least when you put all those things in a frame and look at it that way.<br />
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I'm still an a cappella nerd that loves to sing. I'm still a skinny Asian kid that dreams of breaking 120 lbs someday. I still love people. I still love my family. I'm still trying to figure out how to love me.<br />
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I could walk you through the last 24 months of my life but the details are irrelevant and neither you nor I have the time to create that experience together anyway--so fast let's fast forward to now and press play.<br />
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If you've been in contact with me in the last month, you know that one thing has been consistent with me--I have been a catastrophe with a heartbeat.<br />
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One thing after the other, self-inflicted or not. One of those months where you tell yourself that there is no possible way things could get any more difficult... and then fate laughs and gets creative and your car all of a sudden explodes. <br />
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So I tried to find people to run to, only to realize that I'd just become one of the inconveniences in their life because they're too busy, too far away or too invested in something else. If I found someone, the moment I showed them my heart and they saw how broken and bruised it was, I became an inconvenience to them too and they broke it a little more and left anyway. I tried to put band-aids on to heal but what I really needed was stitches and time to make the wound close. Anything good I tried to do somehow turned into a disaster. The only good I feel I can do now is nothing.<br />
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Sounds pretty sad doesn't it?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span><br />
<br />
When I went to the Philippines last year to visit my mission, I had the chance to go scuba diving for the first time at the beautiful islands around Palawan. On our first day, we stopped at a beach on a small island to set up lunch. Our boat was like one gigantic kayak with a motor, and like all small boats, rocked back and forth with the waves. To get off, there was a small ladder that reached from the edge of the boat to the shore--nothing crazy.<br />
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As I was stepping off, a few larger waves started coming in and rocking the boat back and forth causing me to lose my balance coming down the steps of the ladder. In attempt to steady myself, I grabbed on to the ledge of the boat to try to find balance again only to realize that the whole boat was rocking--not just the ladder. As you already have figured out, it didn't end well and I fell off the ladder, into the water like an idiot.<br />
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More often than not, I find that during hard times I cling to unstable things when what I need is stability or look for a cure when what I really need is healing. Whether that be turning to people who I don't have a good foundation of trust with yet for support or going through therapy to come out cured instead of realizing that healing is a process.<br />
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The root of disappointment is expectation.<br />
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We want to feel love from certain people which only hurts us when they don't feel that you're worthy of that love and time just yet.<br />
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We want to gain peace immediately which only discourages us when we forget that true peace from difficult battles takes a daily effort of emotional first-aid--like when treating an excruciating wound. (Click <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/guy_winch_the_case_for_emotional_hygiene" target="_blank">here</a> for more on emotional hygiene)<br />
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We want to our lives to be perfect like everyone else's which only shatters us when we forget that we aren't problems that need fixing no matter how broken we may seem--our worth is precious and eternal. Being imperfect but doing the best to be our absolute best is just as good as, if not better, than whatever our vision of "perfect" is.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span><br />
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Prepare to be ready when the storms do come and when they do, don't go outside in the storm to try to be God and control the weather--that would be completely idiotic and you would probably die. Stay in the place you have prepared and trust in the work you have put in to make that place a safe place. That doesn't mean the storm won't affect you or that it might tear down some things that you worked really hard to put up, but remember, storms end and there isn't anything that has ever been torn down that has been or could have been built back up better.<br />
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A therapist once told me that no pill or amount of therapy will ever be able to replace the power of a good, healthy and safe relationship where both people are lifted up by unconditional love. These relationships that we create and nourish are the safest place we can be and will bring us more joy, and there is a difference between happiness and joy, than anything else in life.<br />
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If you don't feel that you have any relationships like these, create them. Remember that you aren't alone, first and foremost, and that at the very least, you have company in people all around you that feel exactly the same way. Look for people who know what you can become and believe in you and your dreams. These are the relationships that you can cling to and will be a shelter to you in times of need. These are the people who will never give up on you no matter what. Just remember that building strong relationships also takes time and effort and don't expect it to be immediate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvkOHEaOLpYMYSIio3dmEqnE_EvRM7pN66Q6FCCJpfb0jymwuVOehbd8XlBJs9wre49Tmt_F7D9QPDZAWKDEwTQJX9s1uCFLwtCZW4ze2KkGZd_epClDnctGli3YPpFu8vFBRSXRQ538/s1600/Eric+2-7-16+%25282+of+4%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvkOHEaOLpYMYSIio3dmEqnE_EvRM7pN66Q6FCCJpfb0jymwuVOehbd8XlBJs9wre49Tmt_F7D9QPDZAWKDEwTQJX9s1uCFLwtCZW4ze2KkGZd_epClDnctGli3YPpFu8vFBRSXRQ538/s400/Eric+2-7-16+%25282+of+4%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photography by Alex Angus</td></tr>
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Finally, the best thing any of us can do is build a strong, compassionate relationship with ourselves. That doesn't mean sit down and just love ourselves in the mirror and get lost in our own beauty. That also doesn't mean we should ever be complacent with our progress. It just means that we acknowledge and accept that we're in the middle of a race to be become something. Yes we will fall and people will point and laugh but just because we fall doesn't mean we still can't win. It just means that crossing the finish line is going to be that much better.<br />
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To the few friends that have helped me through this year so far that have taken bullets for and bullets from me, thank you. I wouldn't have been able to make it through without you.<br />
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Until next time friends. Follow no crowd.<br />
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<br />Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-55971308366704056852014-03-09T23:46:00.002-06:002014-03-10T00:02:00.018-06:00Stop this train.Thanks to everyone for your overwhelming kind comments and thoughts about my last blog. I don't think I've ever had that much feedback on a blog I've posted before--I loved it. Everyone's encouragement and positivity really kept me going through the past few days which have been really challenging. Needless to say, life's been different. But mostly because of a fairly recent plot twist--<br />
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All of the guys are dating someone except me.<br />
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That probably sounds dumb, and please don't mistake the genuine happiness I have for each of them, but to anyone who has had a best friend who has recently started dating someone, you know the struggle is real.<br />
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A lot of people have been commenting on how hard I've taken the elections the past week, but here's what you don't see. I had finally found my group of friends where I was a part of something--yeah, I know a lot of people, but to belong is something different.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lVZeHQfG8fDnQNelepTP9CFHqO2be3x4miwEkkEMVk_V_5fh0pxPZtXWbJEx8zkEPaNe8GEST9ppqFVTm1JfM3k4VhCAOHHFvADZX1jwzBY-pMezVuOBgAdK608AE-L-_IIQuySMwmA/s1600/_MG_6034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lVZeHQfG8fDnQNelepTP9CFHqO2be3x4miwEkkEMVk_V_5fh0pxPZtXWbJEx8zkEPaNe8GEST9ppqFVTm1JfM3k4VhCAOHHFvADZX1jwzBY-pMezVuOBgAdK608AE-L-_IIQuySMwmA/s1600/_MG_6034.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Logan, Taylor, Scott, Paulo and I--I mean our friendships were at the heart of that campaign and I owe the campaign those friendships. I'm not going to write another blog about the four of those guys--don't worry--things are just different now. We don't have an excuse to spend time with each other anymore without the campaign, and me being the only single of the five literally leaves me odd man out.<br />
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So where does that leave me? It leaves me back at square one. Rug pulled out form underneath my feet. Weekends without friends to spend them with (ask me what I did last Friday)(I take that back I hungout with Paulo on Friday). And lots of plan-less loneliness, single days in between.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yBwULX_hPzOTlNkwTuPty2uDiJ0E2PtWwYj6atQVTj4D1DQo0vNdhlZFsEgunI-Wf__H0fqfKFKxEb_R8QAA6VMXsOVhiwpfLNZz5tH2RN4e9ONfDdFJemlM5CcpiG95TFzPUx-jFQc/s1600/DSC_1313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yBwULX_hPzOTlNkwTuPty2uDiJ0E2PtWwYj6atQVTj4D1DQo0vNdhlZFsEgunI-Wf__H0fqfKFKxEb_R8QAA6VMXsOVhiwpfLNZz5tH2RN4e9ONfDdFJemlM5CcpiG95TFzPUx-jFQc/s1600/DSC_1313.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a>I have trouble letting go of good things and memories. Growing up, I was the kid in the family who was always in tears every time we would have to go home after visiting my grandparents and cousins in California in Hawaii. During my mission, I cried for days every time I got transferred and especially when I left the Philippines. I miss a lot of things and spend most of the time I have thinking about memories I wish I could relive and have back.<br />
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I feel like this transition has been hard for me because things were so good. The memories I have made with these guys and new friends I've made in the past semester I priceless. The Sunday dinners, endless meetings, parties, not to mention even just good old office hours at BYUSA--none of it is the same or will ever be the same anymore. I miss it already. Adjusting is never comfortable.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span><br />
Ever since we went to compete at the first round of the ICCAs at UC Berkeley and saw the UCLA Scattertones perform <i>Stop This Train</i> by John Mayer, I've been listening to the song nonstop on my phone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-87qlQnggx7X6CeBl6V1qOthkosv2-cC4z905xOV35dA0xmuNEJAxYZEb0ApNC4zkfxQnlAgdLlDmbk6O1pJ-6d-xtHDWvcs0bkhwLtxcOJ1ZxYzwTbLmQQviwc4Fz7an3UEt7sOdHQ/s1600/IMG_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-87qlQnggx7X6CeBl6V1qOthkosv2-cC4z905xOV35dA0xmuNEJAxYZEb0ApNC4zkfxQnlAgdLlDmbk6O1pJ-6d-xtHDWvcs0bkhwLtxcOJ1ZxYzwTbLmQQviwc4Fz7an3UEt7sOdHQ/s1600/IMG_0379.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The song talks about life and compares it to a train ride. It talks about how life moves by so fast--so fast that most times we don't get to enjoy the moments we want to last and sometimes just want to stop the train of life completely and just go back to the good times and memories that we've experienced.<br />
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The song, however, ends with reassurance. The person who the song is about (John Mayer) says that he talks to his dad who tells him to not think for a minute that he isn't where he needs to be right now and that he has so many more greater experiences ahead of him. He figures out that he needs to realize this because in all reality, there is no stopping this train.<br />
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I know people tell me that all the time (the whole "life gets better" thing), but when I've really stopped to think about that and how my life has unfolded, it's really true.<br />
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Looking back, although my trials have become increasingly more challenging, the things I've accomplished, blessings I've received, and people that I've met have only gotten better and better as I've gotten older. I somehow find myself doing harder things, receiving more promising things, and meeting better friends while all along the way thinking that life wouldn't, and more importantly, <i>couldn't </i>get any better. I find that when I focus so much on the past and cling to memories or sometimes even regrets, I literally walk around life blind.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span><br />
Two weeks ago in our last leadership class for BYUSA we talked about time management and set some goals. My goal was something that we talked about in that class and was about this very thing--my goal was to live where I am and be there 100%.<br />
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Life is already so full of distractions that take us away from the present, there's no need to continue to make up our own. I've learned that I need to be where I am. Literally look forward. Quit waiting for things to happen and do them. Engage and make the best of every moment. And realize that the "good old days" are happening now--if all I do is think about the past, I'll just let them go by and miss them.<br />
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And while this doesn't make lonely weekends or weekdays any easier, it's always good to know and hope for good things to come. This year has been great and I've made some really great friends that I don't intend on losing or replacing, and something I've realized, is that I don't have to. Life will keep going, whether we do or not. So hang on and cling tight and never cry because things are over--instead learn to just smile because they've happened.<br />
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<br />Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-60621967194418616522014-03-05T22:49:00.001-07:002014-03-06T11:59:52.299-07:00Courage.<div class="tr_bq">
It's one thing to have your heart broken. It's another to watch people you love get their hearts' broken.</div>
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We lost the campaign today. We lost by 44 votes.<br />
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I've been sitting on the same spot on my couch for nearly four hours now thinking (and texting people in between of course) and just trying to process everything. I'm still definitely in denial, that's without a question. The <i>what ifs</i> could stretch for miles and prolong the pain, but as Logan's older brother Brandon said, regret truly serves no purpose.<br />
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I can't remember the last time I hurt this much for someone who has tried so hard. The most familiar thing I can remember is watching my little brother come home crying after losing a student council election in elementary school. I remember my mom telling me that day and asking me to go comfort him. I remember finding him in his room crying and wanting to beat up all of those little elementary school kids since I was a big, bad middle-schooler at the time. Unfortunately, beating up people isn't an option anymore at this age, especially since I'm a foot shorter than everyone now and there are 30,000 kids at this school.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfSdVA13egpLmqZe0627hdqVMG-Pw-wq1FcNqQWUCVekUgEvnN5fV8ZykHZT0ZFkDAzGEN4rh2QeyIZzpL8ZbjE5U4iw_sAfssT65HAV-2foTVDri61PhUjP-7OIV_ErI9LseFCnuQ9M/s1600/_MG_5932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfSdVA13egpLmqZe0627hdqVMG-Pw-wq1FcNqQWUCVekUgEvnN5fV8ZykHZT0ZFkDAzGEN4rh2QeyIZzpL8ZbjE5U4iw_sAfssT65HAV-2foTVDri61PhUjP-7OIV_ErI9LseFCnuQ9M/s1600/_MG_5932.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>This campaign has literally been my life since Logan briefly mentioned it to me the day before I left for Thanksgiving break. It's been even more so a part of Taylor and Logan's lives well before. I'm lost without it, but in all honesty, I could care less about the work that I've put in. Thinking about how much they've been through to come so close is where the pain point is.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span><br />
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I've been thinking a lot about courage in the past week. Courage, as defined by google, is the ability to do something that frightens one or is strength in the face of pain or grief. The root of the word courage comes from <i>cor, </i>the Latin root for <i>heart</i>.<br />
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It takes enough courage to do what is right. It takes even more courage to stand up for what is right.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkFonObDWOCN5JqISl9ay01RR0UtUAXx66dCc7RCuZaENTK5u39hUMGL8B34PoDQXzPDCQSuI8R_udN_IeQhmATSS1QUmpHoK_b4RjwzN5EwCHSP8CuwNS_PwK96jxmbZ39vUt-IYoXc/s1600/_MG_5789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkFonObDWOCN5JqISl9ay01RR0UtUAXx66dCc7RCuZaENTK5u39hUMGL8B34PoDQXzPDCQSuI8R_udN_IeQhmATSS1QUmpHoK_b4RjwzN5EwCHSP8CuwNS_PwK96jxmbZ39vUt-IYoXc/s1600/_MG_5789.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>During campaign season, it all comes out. We aren't oblivious to what the school thinks of BYUSA. We aren't unaware of how so many think "they don't do anything for <b>me</b>" or "they <i>can't</i> do anything for <b>me</b>". We know. Yet regardless of how much we got mocked and ridiculed, we still care, and people like Taylor and Logan care even more to make a difference.<br />
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I've realized what amazing examples of courage Taylor and Logan have been to me over this whole campaign. Taylor and Logan will forever be my heroes because of the courage, and most importantly, heart, that it's taken them to be able to push through everything we've gone through and continue to keep their chins up and keep running because of how much they love serving students and how much they love BYU. Our campaign had nothing to do with the glory that Taylor and Logan would have received in those positions, but truly was about the students. It really was about you.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span><br />
A "think different" campaign that Apple did a handful of years ago centered their campaign around the idea that the people who think they are crazy enough to change the world are the people who end up changing the world.<br />
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Although I'll be sad for two of my best friends and we'll be sad collectively for a second, true effort applied correctly is never wasted. Sure, our campaign may end here, but everything that we've created together will live forever. Memories. Friendships. Lessons. Those are all ours to keep that no one can take away.<br />
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I shared this thought with Scott that I found yesterday morning, feel like it really applies to the experiences we've had lately:<br />
<blockquote>
The Paradoxical Commandments<br />
by Dr. Kent M. Keith </blockquote>
<blockquote>
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.<br />
Love them anyway. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.<br />
Do good anyway. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.<br />
Succeed anyway. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.<br />
Do good anyway. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.<br />
Be honest and frank anyway. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.<br />
Think big anyway. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.<br />
Fight for a few underdogs anyway. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.<br />
Build anyway. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.<br />
Help people anyway. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.<br />
Give the world the best you have anyway.</blockquote>
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The reality of life is that, as Taylor and Logan did, you have to step out of your comfort zone and have the courage to make a difference. You can't live your life half-heartedly and paralyze yourself by being scared to fail. If you're doing your hardest to achieve what you've set your heart on, failures are impossible. You'll progress along the way, and if things don't work out how you've expected, it's just nothing but a new opportunity and new lesson to be learned.<br />
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So be crazy. Believe that you can do hard things, like Logan's girlfriend Chandler told me--because you can do hard things. And most of all, have some heart. If you need some good examples, I know two good guys who wold be just the guys to talk to.<br />
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To my brothers, Taylor and Logan--proud to walk beside you and support you always in all that you do. Love you to no end.Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-28443450587593734742014-02-16T22:53:00.001-07:002014-02-16T22:58:36.462-07:00Alone in temporary homes.Look at me, blogging two weeks in a row almost. What can I say? I somehow find exposing my life and insecurities to you therapeutic. How does that make sense. Excuse me now while I word-vomit at you.<br />
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This week was lonely. This week was really lonely. Other than a great date, the only thing I enjoyed was being able to talk to my mom for her birthday. Everything else was difficult, and complicated, and stressful, and every other emotion or feeling that you don't like to feel.<br />
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And then to make things even better, anyone who I would usually spend time with, left out of town for the long weekend, and most left early. I'll be going out of town frequently for the next couple of weeks, so it didn't really make sense for me so I stayed here. I've spent a lot of time (probably too much time) alone in my empty apartment feeling left out and forgotten about.<br />
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I thought to myself frequently this weekend about the irony of the situation--how not even a week ago I was raving about how I have the best friends on the planet (who still are there and still are the best friends on the planet, let's not get that wrong) but they seemed to be nowhere to be found.<br />
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For someone like me, being alone hurts. It hurts so much sometimes that it feels like your heart is being wrung of any happiness that exists in it. You call, you text, but no matter what, everyone else has somewhere else to be--without you. What do you do when the monster of loneliness attacks you and you're all alone?<br />
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Now before you think I've jumped off the emo-train, bear with me, because I'm going to tell you what I've learned.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span><br />
In the past few days, I've found that although I've hated everything about this weekend, I have actually valued being able to just be alone because it's stripped me of all relationships that I use for protection and support and left me with only one place to turn to--God.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sFz8sp_6SdMkWh4eUvH4mIdsulMmkdhh4dWK2AiskmH6HCEBRpdqbspDUclYWNXjP05Ksf34ZUmPAbAQrg5u5UCJwH_Q9R8SQ_KGt-JS0J6sQfSQk__VMU3lzv_GBrPnw2BCRV4Ywjs/s1600/IMG_1682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sFz8sp_6SdMkWh4eUvH4mIdsulMmkdhh4dWK2AiskmH6HCEBRpdqbspDUclYWNXjP05Ksf34ZUmPAbAQrg5u5UCJwH_Q9R8SQ_KGt-JS0J6sQfSQk__VMU3lzv_GBrPnw2BCRV4Ywjs/s1600/IMG_1682.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Loneliness has nothing to do with people. Loneliness is a state of mind. This weekend, I've realized that feeling the sting of loneliness has been the single, most effective trial I've had that's brought me straight to my knees and running back to Heavenly Father.<br />
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Yesterday, while I was making dinner for myself, by myself, I felt like I had reached my capacity to endure this lonely weekend and was ready to just breakdown in the kitchen in tears. My heart just needed someone--anyone. Before letting my emotions get the best of me, I said a quiet prayer to myself and then literally felt heaven embrace me.<br />
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My phone started going off the hook immediately of friends texting me and calling to see how I was doing, the ones not able to reach me leaving kind voicemails. Then people started stopping by for no other reason but to say hi spend time with me. One heart warming and healing experience after another. God reminding me that he was very well aware of me.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span><br />
One of my favorite, favorite songs to listen to is <i>Temporary Home</i> by Carrie Underwood. I can vividly remember the first time I ever listened to it. I was having a hard time adjusting to a new point in my life. I remember being overcome by the lyrics of the song.<br />
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The song talks about the stories of three people--a lonely orphan, a single mother, and sick grandfather. The first few lyrics about the little boy get to me every time when it describes him as <i>a little to used to being alone</i>. I feel like that is something we all can sometimes relate to.<br />
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The song, however, isn't about these people or how difficult their situations are. It's about a realization and a common knowledge that they all have. They know and take happiness and hope from knowing that everything in this life is temporary. They know that all problems, situations, circumstances, pains, and trials will have an end, and they have the courage to move through life with this knowledge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCfuPLr4THfUydD4RHgIux-NHBQ7iCSLkqHT6YNHyn3kx0OBgKakBBajSTLJXD62Xty27C0uct0pgJVtdo_4GjRmdGLbPobVIrYcM3W1WzT6ileUVEuIMTjg3azi92jKIeh5vHNVvvTI/s1600/IMG_1713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCfuPLr4THfUydD4RHgIux-NHBQ7iCSLkqHT6YNHyn3kx0OBgKakBBajSTLJXD62Xty27C0uct0pgJVtdo_4GjRmdGLbPobVIrYcM3W1WzT6ileUVEuIMTjg3azi92jKIeh5vHNVvvTI/s1600/IMG_1713.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a>There is no way to completely avoid sorrow however it attacks you--whether it be loneliness, addictions, uncontrollable circumstances, or anything else--and there is no medicine, remedy, or technique that will ever be able to just make pain go away. Regardless, we all can have courage to have hope and move forward because we know that as long as we keep moving forward, we will find an end.<br />
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This life on earth is just as the song puts it--our temporary home and a place where we will never completely belong. It's a place for us to pass through life and learn, but isn't meant to be forever. Forever is where we are going. And the knowledge of that--being able to make it back to our Father in Heaven who I know misses each of us so much--is enough to dry a world of tears.<br />
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<br />Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-14335298168513830292014-02-07T01:04:00.001-07:002014-02-07T01:18:29.147-07:00Strengthening bridges.So much to catch up on, but quite frankly, you don't need an update on my life and that's not why you're reading this--you can stalk me on Facebook or Instagram if you'd really like, I'm pretty good at keeping up with that and posting well.<br />
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Life. Am I ever going to get it?<br />
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I ask myself that almost everyday. When am I going to find time to manage my time better? When am I going to find time to fix my grades? When am I going to find time (and money) to date? Can I just run away and have a break?<br />
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Last semester was the most tiring and challenging semester I've ever been through. With the creation of Beyond Measure, school, and working three jobs, my life was nothing short of complicated (not that your life is any easier).<br />
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I fell in every area of my life--socially, spiritually, emotionally, academically, physically--you name it. I had no time for my friends, J. Crew and the MTC were taking my time on Sundays for church, I was consistently upset or depressed, my grades were the worst they had ever been, and on top of everything, I barely had time to eat. All time low for Eric doesn't even describe my semester last year.<br />
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As if being in your twenties isn't hard enough. We are all lost. We are all behind in school. We are all trying to make it. But what happens when doors continue to shut on you, you dream but you can't figure out if those dreams are even worth reaching for, and it seems like no matter how much you try, it just seems like failure is your best friend? Let's not even mention the fact that no one invites you to things and you spend all of your weekends alone. Isn't there a point when life is just too much?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span><br />
I'm not extremely versed when it comes to literature, but I do love reading church books. Last summer, my friend McKay let me borrow (I know, it's February and I still haven't returned it) a book <span style="font-family: inherit;">called, <i>Look Up my Soul</i> by Elder Lund--a book about hope. There was a story in there about strengthening bridges that particularly hit me that I love sharing. Here's a short summary:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two Christian missionaries in Africa were assigned to transport saw mill and well-drilling equipment a distance of about 250 miles. As the husband and wife began trucking the supplies, they realized a big problem. They had to cross many weakly constructed bridges over small swampy streams and large, crocodile-infested rivers. They shed as much weight as much as possible from the truck, but it wasn’t enough. Finally, a decision was made.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“The husband said, ‘I cannot lighten the load any more, therefore I have to strengthen the bridges.’ He carried poles on the truck and strengthened the bridge, then took it apart after they crossed,” Elder Lund said. “I love that metaphor — in these times we are in, politically, economically, socially, with terrorism, all the other things, I don’t think the Lord can say, ‘I’ll just lighten the load for you.’ But he does say, ‘I can help you strengthen the bridges,’ and hope is the major way he does that.” The husbands wife closes, "In any heartbreak there is just so much hurt, so much pain, so much loneliness. Those are part of human experience and God does not always deaden them or take them away. But though He does not always lighten the load, He does reinforce the bridge."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've thought about this story a lot and it never really made sense to me until a couple days ago. I've been convinced that spiritually, when I go through trials, the only tools I have to reinforce myself and strengthen myself are prayer and s</span>cripture study, but sometimes, that doesn't seem like enough and I get frustrated. Do you ever feel that way?<br />
<br />
I realized something past these things though.<br />
<br />
I had a counselor once tell me that there will never be any kind of depression medication that will be created that will ever be as powerful as a good, healthy relationship.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://headroncollider.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/The_Holstee_Manifesto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://headroncollider.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/The_Holstee_Manifesto.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a>Our lives revolve around the relationships that we have and the things we create with those people. The single most important relationships that drive me personally as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are my relationships with God, my Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ. Those relationships drive everything that happens in my life. Next my relationships with all the people I love in no particular order, be they family or friends. And finally, my relationship with myself.<br />
<br />
At the end of last semester, I randomly made friends with four people who have since changed my life. That sounds cliche and cheesy and gay and stupid, but it is the naked and transparent truth. People can and may possibly be, one of the only things that can change your life--and when I say people, I mean yourself included.<br />
<br />
I did this thing that I've wanted to keep up on on Instagram right before Thanksgiving, but haven't done it since. I wrote about people that I was thankful for and why I was thankful for them. Since I haven't really kept up, I'd say here's a great avenue to pick up where I've left off. Allow me to introduce you to my new support group.<br />
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I met Logan first. I have a strange obsession with socks if you don't know, and one day in the BYUSA office, I had mentioned that J. Crew was having a huge blowout sale and Logan had mentioned that he wanted some socks. I ended up getting him some and drove up with him one day to help him apply for a position which I wasn't too much of a help getting since I ended up quitting. I met everyone else through Logan.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/1508010_10153665322970392_813555327_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/1508010_10153665322970392_813555327_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>I love Logan because he will drop and sacrifice anything for his friends. He is the friend that will stay up until 1:00 a.m. with you just to talk or come early to and skip class later to help you with an activity you've planned and are running. He is the friend that will actually pick up the phone and call you just to see how you are doing.<br />
<br />
One of the things that Logan's said that really has touched me, that I feel really describes him was actually during one of our few gym experiences together haha. We are by no means "bros" but while we were on the bench the other day, he killed me. Something he said stuck with me though. When we had stacked the weights on both sides far more than I thought I could handle, he looked straight at me and said, "You can do it. I'll be right here the whole time. I'm not going anywhere." There are few other words that describe Logan better than that quote. That is the very essence of Logan and his friendship with others. People as kind as Logan is are few and far between.<br />
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I met Scott last summer at an iPod dance party, but we never became close until I invited him to come on the huge Beyond Measure, Christmas group date. We started talking and texting back and forth, and eventually Scott became one of my best friends.<br />
<br />
Scott's a different kind of guy that it takes awhile to get to know and understand. I love Scott because he is one of the most patient people I know, that is hard to offend and understands, more than anyone else I know, what it truly means to bear another's burdens. One of my most heart-warming memories I have with Scott was over Christmas break. I was having a really rough night and tried to get a hold of him really late. When I texted him to ask if he was still awake, he responded, "I'm always here." That is what Scott lives by. Whether it be random, unannounced trips to your place to make sure you're okay, or short, heart-warming messages, Scott spends his life helping those who have no one else.<br />
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I met Taylor randomly through him reaching out to me through BYUSA--this is a rare thing. I usually am the person to reach out and make friends, but when someone reaches out to me, that doesn't go unnoticed.<br />
<br />
Taylor knows how to love and how to show love. He's that guy who walks around the office everyday and gives good hugs (because you know there are some people who aren't good at that). He tries his best to get to know everyone and sincerely cares and worries about everyone. He'll be the guy that sends you a text when you're having a bad day so see what's actually bothering you and if you're okay.<br />
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This could sound strange, but what I love about Taylor the most is that he lets me help him and reminds me that he's also not perfect. It's a mutually benefitting relationship. There's something special about about when your friends trust you enough to turn to you for help as well and then help you when you need it in return. There aren't many people that will trust you enough to let you into their lives, and it makes me feel important to someone when they trust me to see their imperfections and aren't stingy with letting their self be helped.<br />
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I met Paulo last, but didn't actually really meet Paulo or need to meet Paulo, if that makes sense. You know that person that all of your friends are friends with that you hear about all the time who has also hears about you? That was me and Paulo--no introductions needed. Treated me like a brother right off the bat.<br />
<br />
Paulo is the person that everyone loves because he is the most genuine person you will ever meet. I say that about everyone, but I really mean this about Paulo. He is a soft-spoken kind of caring. When he asks how you are doing, he looks at you and actually wants to know how you are doing and is very, very sincere in everything he says. What I love the most about Paulo is that he is really generous with real compliments. He's thankful of everyone he meets and knows how to express that well. People love being validated and knowing that they are doing good things. Paulo is really good at letting people know.<br />
<br />
What's different about these four guys than any other four guys I've ever known is that there is a give and take between all five of us. None of us are the same. In fact, we are all extremely different on so many levels. But that's what makes having each other great. We are brothers in every sense of the word. When one of us needs help or is hurting, we are all there to support. Whatever the situation may be, we are in it together.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span><br />
I've found out that in my life, the best way for me to strengthen myself is to strengthen my relationships. This gives way to everything else. When my relationships are the healthiest, I am the happiest, and when I'm the happiest, I succeed in all areas of my life.<br />
<br />
Trials these days come in all shapes, forms, and sizes, and the funny part is, they don't seem to get any easier as life goes on. Regardless, nothing brings me more comfort and peace than to know that, as Jeffrey R. Holland says, "In this church--there will always be someone to stand beside you."<br />
<br />
If you're having a hard time, your GPA sucks, and you're so busy with life that you feel like you can't breathe, take a moment to step back and remember what matters most in your life. You're not alone in your experiences. You're not alone period.<br />
<br />
As Scott says, in 100 years, what you will remember and things that will matter are the times that you helped people and the times that you let people help you. The best way to help yourself is by helping others. That's a fact. Fill your life with and draw strength from trusted loved ones to sustain you in times of need. In them you'll find God in the most tangible form.<br />
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You may not become part of a wannabe boy band or fab five set of friends like I have, but that's irrelevant. There are people all around you that need your help and can help you. Share your burdens. Strengthen yourself. Remember--everyone you meet can be your best friend.<br />
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Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-88053229104665837642014-01-19T19:00:00.000-07:002014-01-19T19:07:06.222-07:00Tyler Haws: Good Basketball Player, Better Person<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">PROVO,
Utah – It was half-time at Brigham Young University homecoming game last
Saturday. All 65,000 seats at the LaVell Edwards football stadium were filled. The
crowd roared as the basketball team came out onto the field but nothing could
compare to the cheers when star-player, Tyler Haws walked out.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1374779_10151672456045684_1017648544_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1374779_10151672456045684_1017648544_n.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">With
overwhelming support from success in basketball from a university of more than
30,000 and also the support of the world-wide Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, Tyler Haws, 22 is easily one of the most well-known names in
Latter-day Saint culture. Yet at a closer look, with family and friends who can
testify, Tyler may be more than a good basketball, but he is an even better
person.</span><br />
<br /><a href="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/33656_10150305801030392_2805129_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/33656_10150305801030392_2805129_n.jpg" width="175" /></span></a><a href="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1385020_10151665448965684_1405810432_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1385020_10151665448965684_1405810432_n.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">The
stereotype for well-known athletes isn’t that of a good one. Whether it be in
organized, club sports leagues, high school organized sports, or college level
sports especially, the average athlete or “jock” isn’t known for being the
nicest person. Tyler recognized this at a young age and his lived his life by
it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">“I’ve
been in athletics my whole life and I’ve seen that type of athlete. When I came
to college I noticed it wasn’t any different. I made a decision that I would
never be that athlete and try to be an example to those around me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">Recently,
Tyler has received a lot of media attention for leaving basketball after his
freshman year to serve a two-year mission in the Philippines. Tyler says that
lessons he learned on his mission has not only refined his character but has
also helped him to become a better athlete in the basketball world as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">“When
I was in my first area, I had one companion that just hated me. Then one night
we both sat down and opened up to each other, and I did the best I could to
find things that would make him happy and make it work. We would crack jokes,
rap when we walked in the streets, dance around to weird songs. I found little
things that could make us close which ended up helping our friendship and us in
missionary work. Experiences like those help me still every day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">Kayla
DeLaMare, 52, wife of David DeLaMare who was Tyler’s mission president, says
that Tyler was patient and driven to be a good missionary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">“People
knew who he was and he always took the time for people. He never looked over
anyone and made them feel special.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">Ben
DeLaMare, 18, son of David and Kayla says that Tyler was like a big brother to
him that was always humble and loved the Philippines. Ben says that everyone
just wanted to be his friend because he made people feel good about themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">“Something
I remember about Tyler is that he really cared about his family. He missed them
a lot while he was in the Philippines and wanted to make sure that he was a
good example to his younger brother.” says Ben.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">Tyler’s
love for his family is extremely evident. Tyler’s grandfather, Ralph Haws, 74, says
that while he and his wife served an 18-month mission for the Mormon church in
Trinidad, Tyler emailed them every Sunday without miss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">Ralph
comments that he and his grandson have been great friends throughout the years.
Ralph says that he has been impressed how Tyler has handled all of the
attention he has gotten throughout the years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">“Tyler
knows that he has been extremely blessed and just wants to help.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">Ralph
talks about how above all, Tyler looks for opportunities to use ways he’s been
blessed to serve in his church and the youth around him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">“Whatever
the case, whether it be basketball or something else, Tyler just looks at it as
a vehicle to be able to serve.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">Regardless
of whatever the stereotype for athletes might be or how other athletes might
act. Tyler will continue to use his talents to help those around him. Tyler
sees everyone doing good as part of a big team working to a common goal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I
don’t see myself as being better than anyone else. We are all the same. We are
all one big team.”</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-1104483299502786352013-07-19T10:32:00.001-06:002013-07-19T10:32:46.780-06:00Everybody's bruising. Sitting here in the library at 9:00 p.m. on a summer night. It's one of those nights.<br />
<br />
It's been a few months since I've been on here. I've had a lot going through my head lately, and I felt like it was time to get back on this thing and share some of what I've learned.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmV2va3cNGMWnS_BcShzbet2RteDm4yTJr0wPzD-1k1d9RuMu2cTof-Yh75Qe9t0b0Ky48cYIcJ1cXc-aTq9grCCC5syaHd40UKsncxC6eXqM6P1r-PYpuFyXLlMyXsr3ZDERvjH9fvk/s1600/IMG_0936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmV2va3cNGMWnS_BcShzbet2RteDm4yTJr0wPzD-1k1d9RuMu2cTof-Yh75Qe9t0b0Ky48cYIcJ1cXc-aTq9grCCC5syaHd40UKsncxC6eXqM6P1r-PYpuFyXLlMyXsr3ZDERvjH9fvk/s200/IMG_0936.JPG" width="200" /></a>Moving to King Henry has been a great decision for me. I came in knowing no one and now have so many new friends that it's overwhelming to think of. I love the new life I have here. It's strange to think that I knew none of these people before. I don't know how I lived without all these people in my life.<br />
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Somehow I've found myself with the "guy-that-everyone-knows" label again. The kid who throws the huge parties. Like in Helaman. Like in high school. Like in middle school. And for goodness sake, like in elementary school. My mom loves to tell the story of me when I was little and she used to push me around in a stroller while she would shop. She says that keeping me in the stroller was impossible whenever I would see another kid. I would always just jump out of the stroller and walk straight up to whatever kid and say, "Hi! My name is Eric. Will you be my friend?" To this day she still has pictures of me and the instant-best friends I made in all these random places. Twenty-two years later, nothing has really changed.<br />
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I love people. I love meeting people. I love making new friends. But contrary to popular belief the kid that apparently "everyone knows" and apparently "knows everybody" is one of the loneliest kids out there. My whole life I've tried so hard to fit in and make friends. Maybe from the outside it seems like I succeed. Since I have been able to, every Christmas I hand out 100+ cards too all my friends, I throw surprise birthday parties, buy gifts to show appreciation, and do all of these things to hopefully strengthen my friendships. But the sad news is, rarely, if ever, does that happen or do people return the favor.<br />
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I'm not sure that even the worst of physical pains can compete with how it feels to be uninvited, unappreciated, or unloved. Living at one of the most social places in Provo can be a blessing, and a lot of fun at times, but at the same time also really depressing. Seeing everyone outside with their group of friends they've known since high school playing, or knowing all of your friends are out or went somewhere and didn't invite you. It hurts. No matter how hard you try to make friends, it never seems to be enough. It's draining and emotionally tearing. Would you agree?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span><br />
I've recently become hooked to a song by Jessie J called "Who You Are". Not really typical of a song that I would listen to, but I feel like it is so accurate in touching on so many things that people don't realize. This is how the chorus goes:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">It's okay not to be okay.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">Just be true to who you are.</span></span></blockquote>
I especially love the last two lines because I feel like they are of the most misunderstood. I was talking to a good friend the other day--a new friend, named McKay, and we talked about a lot of this--<br />
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Depression is an emotion that feeds itself by shutting out the doors to the outside world and putting up mirrors to you surround instead. It is selfish and it desires no friends. It taints eyes to see only what the surface holds--comparing success, comparing happiness, comparing lives of others all to--what you believe--are the weakest parts of your life.<br />
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What people don't realize is that behind those doors, everybody is bruising. The feelings of not being appreciated, invited, or loved are not exclusive to anyone. Even the people that look like they have all the friends in the world and have the perfect lives have the weekends where no one has invited them anywhere or the empty birthday that no one remembered outside of Facebook. Everyone has their own story and their own trials. Life really is easy for no one.<br />
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As my friend Tayah says, as people, we need reciprocation. We need to feel appreciated. We need to feel gratified. We need to feel loved. Yet frequently we look for this reciprocation in places that will not provide the reciprocation that we seek. Instead of being content with the results of the good we have done or the love we have felt, we seek reassurance, recognition, and invitation that most people either forget or simply don't know how to offer. In essence, we naturally want people to think back on us.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span><br />
It would be insensible to think that you can choose to never feel unappreciated, uninvited, or unloved. Those thoughts will come; however, there are ways that you can avoid being handcuffed by them.<br />
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A few nights later, McKay was telling me about his amazing mom, a strong woman who gives her heart to everyone, who takes the time during every one of her friend's birthdays to call them up and wish them the best. Do you think anyone remembers her birthday?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupC6ikz2zPbd7lbJyzM06U9QCYYKULVAbRxpiIzIjbeXtslJYBZy-X9RgXJOInWPF7KfOpKVZ0YaiPVseuxtYm_WV4pMZ1cdYNckDawnYMv_OcxrTWFeU20lAmY54PYSRhKXhCJt_zGE/s1600/IMG_1101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupC6ikz2zPbd7lbJyzM06U9QCYYKULVAbRxpiIzIjbeXtslJYBZy-X9RgXJOInWPF7KfOpKVZ0YaiPVseuxtYm_WV4pMZ1cdYNckDawnYMv_OcxrTWFeU20lAmY54PYSRhKXhCJt_zGE/s320/IMG_1101.jpg" width="213" /></a>As depression draws our focus into ourselves, happiness draws our focus outward towards others with love that is concerned on giving--not taking back. The most sure way to combat loneliness and these other self-destructing thoughts is through gratitude and service. These two concepts are so important because they put you in a good place--gratitude turns your heart towards God, the center of where are our blessings have come, and service focuses your actions from selfish things to selfless things, putting you in a position to find lasting happiness in improving the lives of others.<br />
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If good people like McKay's mom stopped calling people on their birthdays because she wasn't getting calls on her birthday, we would have no one trying to make people happy in this world. If you want to escape feeling lonely, learn how to be alone. Focus your thoughts, actions, and intentions on being grateful for all you have and in serving others. Be grateful because it opens your eyes to God in the details of your life. Serve because it lets heaven touch everyone--you most importantly--that is involved. These are sure ways to drive out any darkness in your life.<br />
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Days can be bitter and even sometimes cruel. But ironically, taking away difficult times would contradict our very existence. Every day is a learning struggle and giving up can never be an option. Although the trials and lessons come in an increasingly difficult, never ending supply, we can be assured that if we learn to embrace life with its ups and downs, our capacity to endure will increase and we will learn to always rejoice--that's a promise.<br />
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So the next time you're feeling like the world has forgotten about you or you are having a bad day, remember to keep putting one foot in front of the other and continue to lift people up along the way because bad days are nothing but signs of tremendous blessings to come. Just put a smile on, serve, and endure.<br />
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<br />Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-91056336536017248652013-05-17T15:58:00.001-06:002013-05-18T12:44:25.929-06:00Make life better. Begin again.Today I walked a little faster than I had the past week and by a little, I mean a little.<br />
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Truth be told, blogging hasn't been on my mind the past month, although the past month has definitely been worth documenting. I find that the only motivation I have to blog really is after I've gone through something hard. I've also noticed that the only posts people usually like to read are the ones that I talk about how much life can just suck sometimes. So here we are again -<i> a story about how life has slapped me in the face.</i><br />
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I'm terrible when it comes to lots of bad things happening at one time. That was this past week - I mean you can only trip so many times in a row before you actually fall. Perhaps I'm not strong enough to stay on my feet after so many struggles, but more times often than not, I'm convinced I just let myself fall to the ground.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7zGQsDHXMBJLoj-B7Q6cPIKNj_IQ3-v4R4eL9rEyro097ODoH_rNmJtUM-NDYzK4yLtc6ZMdmJQRUREafXo_IPUKMYvXiIQnadxHidJUdUTT8JiJCmSa0CkeyAKG2t3-AuHfucbVvNs/s1600/brit_stumble-775752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7zGQsDHXMBJLoj-B7Q6cPIKNj_IQ3-v4R4eL9rEyro097ODoH_rNmJtUM-NDYzK4yLtc6ZMdmJQRUREafXo_IPUKMYvXiIQnadxHidJUdUTT8JiJCmSa0CkeyAKG2t3-AuHfucbVvNs/s200/brit_stumble-775752.jpg" width="200" /></a>Opening up is also something really hard for me to do. Although I trust quickly and I do want to tell people about my life and ask for help, I've had so many bad experiences in the past that handcuff me from be able to do so. I'm slow and reluctant to share details or specifics because I've had so many run off, sometimes to church leaders, and try to fix things - only to make things more difficult and painful. If you've ever had a heart to heart with me, you've probably noticed that I sit in silence for about 80% of the time and think about what to carefully say and then talk for the remaining 20%.<br />
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On top of that, when I'm in a dark place, I find that most times I like to stay there. Why? I really couldn't tell you. And it's horrible because although I'll seek advice and counsel, I won't take it. No, I'm not chronically depressed. I could probably count the number of bad weeks I have a year on one hand - you could probably count them by the number of times I blog.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span><br />
While I was in the Philippines on my mission, I remember seeing a shirt that I will never forget. The front had a saying that went a little something like this:<br />
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Begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin<span style="font-size: large;"> and begin</span> and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin<span style="font-size: large;"> <i>and begin</i> </span>and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin <span style="font-size: x-large;">and begin</span> and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>and begin</b></span> and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin and begin again. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Never give up.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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I've thought about it a lot. And it really didn't make sense to me until I was talking to my friend Blake about cleaning a couple weeks ago. We talked about why on earth does it even make sense to clean up your apartment. I mean, when you live with three or, in my case, five other guys, it's <b>just</b> going to get dirty again. Right?</div>
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Blake talked about how you clean not to keep things clean, but to keep things from getting out of control. Things will get dirty again, that's inevitable. Even if you clean your apartment and abandon it, mother nature will certainly make sure it is not spotless when you return. You clean for temporary peace of mind, but almost more importantly - to prepare for it to get dirty again.</div>
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Life is pretty similar. You don't go through hard times to end hard times. As long as you are breathing, you better believe that those will come. You go through them to prepare for the increasingly harder times to come, you can't do that if you don't get back up though. </div>
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Not getting back up after tripping and falling is like leaving the dishes in the house to pile up. It just gets harder and harder to do as time goes on. Regardless, no matter how long you've been down, the opportunity is never taken away from you to begin again.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span></div>
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I've had people tell me in the middle of trials the common, cliche, "It gets better." I've come to realize that really isn't true - to some extent anyway. It's true, but it's conditional.</div>
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Life doesn't just <i>get better</i>. Sometimes it does, sure, but sitting around and waiting for luck to arrive and change your life is not really something you can depend on like the sun. Life will really only <b>be</b> <b>better</b> if you <b>make it better</b>. I think more often than not we sit back and hope and dream and wish instead of making those things a reality. So you messed up a relationship with someone - fix it. So you broke a rule - own up to it. So your dreams aren't coming true - fight for them. No human being is in more control of your future than you.</div>
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So next time you're feeling down remember that you're not drowning in water so deep that you can't stand. Your problems will never be able to rob you of true happiness and peace.</div>
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You truly are capable of walking through hell with a smile. Just learn to begin again.</div>
<br />Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-33539194410201204252013-04-01T23:18:00.000-06:002013-04-02T23:45:43.715-06:00Cutting losses: wanting your needs.<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvX8cRsEYC0qqMVAIHzQiss3Tao42IHw1UhI-oGtzy_HdbUq4vKocU6DqqCm6Kl3_8Lz8CGna5gbY_SnL79b3EUwG3XfBPOxebddA7kuBJnfbrIM4nKutJGt1-msQsRZr5fn8VRerdpA/s1600/IMG_9979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvX8cRsEYC0qqMVAIHzQiss3Tao42IHw1UhI-oGtzy_HdbUq4vKocU6DqqCm6Kl3_8Lz8CGna5gbY_SnL79b3EUwG3XfBPOxebddA7kuBJnfbrIM4nKutJGt1-msQsRZr5fn8VRerdpA/s320/IMG_9979.JPG" width="320" /></a>Months. It’s been months since I’ve been on here. I don’t
know how I’ve kept myself from blogging this whole semester. I love blogging. I
love expressing myself. Where on earth have I been?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Long story short – I’ve been busy. I’ve been making time for
things that don’t deserve my time and denying time to the things that should occupy my time. Full-load of classes, student government, glee club,
work… Yikes. Now there are only two weeks left of the semester and things are
only going to pick up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It would be pointless for me to try to catch you up on the
past three months of my life, even though that’s what my intentions were a
couple weeks ago when I said I would write a blog but never did. Details are
somewhat irrelevant, but I’ll give you a bit to understand. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A couple weeks ago, my every intention was to write a
tribute blog to Kelsey, one of my best friends who went into the MTC that
Wednesday, and then it was like the sky shattered sending whatever it could
hurl down on me into my life.<br />
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Self-inflicted? Probably. Mistakes? Undoubtedly.
Difficult? Absolutely.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWu3Y9Udq5iS7HKdRRu2yuTTyYMMaffBy9s5j8Hg2V_9YpSC2KhiNySOO_LVIKn0YMs9JcndpK4MhRmnuqIINAp9KlB4DGcKpQD30N9pzUS8GOWOBdxA0kVA1Xi2D96zxZg5XBz5Runw/s1600/IMG_9980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWu3Y9Udq5iS7HKdRRu2yuTTyYMMaffBy9s5j8Hg2V_9YpSC2KhiNySOO_LVIKn0YMs9JcndpK4MhRmnuqIINAp9KlB4DGcKpQD30N9pzUS8GOWOBdxA0kVA1Xi2D96zxZg5XBz5Runw/s320/IMG_9980.JPG" width="320" /></a>Loss. Loss seemed to be the theme. Loss of opportunities.
Loss of relationships. Loss of success. (No I haven’t gone off an emo-spiral –
stick with me here.) And loss doesn’t just sting when it comes into your life.
It leaves holes inside you. It leaves you empty and numb. It confuses. It distorts.
It steals. Before you know it, you’ve become a stranger to the world and a
stranger to yourself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uFDGgG_y2NCwcchsP2coK8G_D4bhGLhGdLpF29cf2k4pIKDFBdYooQGoaILM7qTmUVpxqPruxJc5sp8vlewzPe9C5ot6BdvgVUN4mYgFXpMTGFy0QsHWeNceSFqYXtTZCv6hPViUN8s/s1600/IMG_9983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uFDGgG_y2NCwcchsP2coK8G_D4bhGLhGdLpF29cf2k4pIKDFBdYooQGoaILM7qTmUVpxqPruxJc5sp8vlewzPe9C5ot6BdvgVUN4mYgFXpMTGFy0QsHWeNceSFqYXtTZCv6hPViUN8s/s320/IMG_9983.JPG" width="320" /></a>That week I had been left behind, rejected, and forgotten.
Loneliness seemed to be unfamiliar for so long, but greeted me with open arms.
To deal, I tried to reach out, but ended up reaching in which left me with nothing
but impenetrable walls to guard my façade. Yet, life hadn’t lost its taste. And
although I was feeling all of those things, I more than anything just wanted to
understand.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUw7qtM4peBJqG5hr2-2iqNaWsXl1i7BceISCe3x_i9l2paHMdIYdkuTV9yADVFmoWEmLBztuCQB9tTvKe1r9ATUAFUiAqNlyVGaumvDdpZH5WjNCMXxV_MPO80QinULSNGI1HvsFQ-M/s1600/IMG_9964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUw7qtM4peBJqG5hr2-2iqNaWsXl1i7BceISCe3x_i9l2paHMdIYdkuTV9yADVFmoWEmLBztuCQB9tTvKe1r9ATUAFUiAqNlyVGaumvDdpZH5WjNCMXxV_MPO80QinULSNGI1HvsFQ-M/s320/IMG_9964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve found in my life that fighting and running away from
painful things usually just sets those things loose, only to come back in the future to meet me again – usually in a more powerful, painful manner. So I thought about whatever
discomfort I was feeling and I came to this question: <i>does loss even really
exist?</i> (Maybe I’ll declare philosophy as my major if all else fails.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s all about how you look it at. Loss of opportunities <i>or
</i>just a minor detour to a better goal? Loss of relationships <i>or</i> just an end to a
relationship that was already over before it started? Loss of feeling <i>or</i> a
chance to appreciate forgotten blessings? Perspective makes a big
difference.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca8PeCyE0wKDjlZbn-02apIKDlouF2Txnyi5cIJnjHe20HbywV3BZPScAbVE4oX3LjP2odGBihbx1LHVyJxRHp6jvXG0OrNWUcC87GzzSUEmjtO4pAMhVu0NgjSMKb9WtRY-iwZEY4kU/s1600/IMG_9966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca8PeCyE0wKDjlZbn-02apIKDlouF2Txnyi5cIJnjHe20HbywV3BZPScAbVE4oX3LjP2odGBihbx1LHVyJxRHp6jvXG0OrNWUcC87GzzSUEmjtO4pAMhVu0NgjSMKb9WtRY-iwZEY4kU/s200/IMG_9966.JPG" width="200" /></a>After thinking about it all on my walk home on this
cloudy spring day, I thought about a story that I heard the other day about
some ladies in the Philippines and often what my mom tells me. It’s all about
<i>needs </i>versus <i>wants</i>. The story talks about how an American woman was impressed with
the Filipino women because during this particular conversation, they were
talking about how life could be better if they had certain things but how
these certain things weren’t necessary – they were just wants.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjYb0q1JPzgCwj7jTIpJEBEyys3HC-iTM-jvg3PZWcBsHKwJeBZm4hKiFwMM_q6u9BT6UzhszEaNsBzQP1KRL2OhBTOaexruFzTQruvS_SrSYOmk3BhP1AJPLF_Mspjoi3x6xJygAaN0/s1600/IMG_9971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjYb0q1JPzgCwj7jTIpJEBEyys3HC-iTM-jvg3PZWcBsHKwJeBZm4hKiFwMM_q6u9BT6UzhszEaNsBzQP1KRL2OhBTOaexruFzTQruvS_SrSYOmk3BhP1AJPLF_Mspjoi3x6xJygAaN0/s200/IMG_9971.JPG" width="200" /></a>Often times we are so set on the things we want and we feel
like we <i>need our wants</i>. Whether they be job opportunities, friendships with
certain people, or wishes for dreams to come true, we have a picture-perfect future
ahead of us that we want, but sometimes not necessarily what we need or what is
needed of us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aFWQG9XJnYPyedgmtijqHtIXhN2CZ0m9qnsINbq_GOmkpn-08P0sDpI28z39QP7M1CRmKkTARlEoeRsAnUEFMmJxaX-yqasU63PQejj9JOWHvnocN5wer0kIajE0wSzLKW492B5ju1g/s1600/IMG_9976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aFWQG9XJnYPyedgmtijqHtIXhN2CZ0m9qnsINbq_GOmkpn-08P0sDpI28z39QP7M1CRmKkTARlEoeRsAnUEFMmJxaX-yqasU63PQejj9JOWHvnocN5wer0kIajE0wSzLKW492B5ju1g/s200/IMG_9976.JPG" width="200" /></a>This is when loss comes – when we lose what we want. I often times feel this when I want what I can't have, don't have, or have kept myself from having. And then the worst part is we fight. We manipulate. We gamble. We dig and we dig and we dig thinking that the fastest way to
light is getting through the world, when in reality we could just climb out
easily to find it. Each of us has a future and if we would just learn to <i>want
our needs</i> instead and have faith to take chances accordingly, the pain of loss can be
eliminated all together.</div>
<br />
This week started off rough too, and with finals, performances, and auditions up ahead, there is always room for disappointment. Life by no means gets any easier, but in a sense, it does when we understand it better. I've made my share of mistakes big and small, but regardless I am still in charge of my life. And I'm ready. I'm ready to begin again.<br />
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<br />Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-9317833975676130162012-12-09T23:41:00.000-07:002012-12-09T23:41:02.233-07:00The end of MCOM.Well, it's the end of the semester and my assignment to write this blog has come to an end. Don't get too worried though if you actually enjoy reading my blog, I will continue blogging.<br />
<br />
I'm really thankful I've had the assignment of making an application blog for my MCOM class. It's been a lot of fun and I've appreciated reflecting every week and seeing the theme of each week and what I've learned.<br />
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Thinking of a big "now what" for the semester, I would probably say that the theme of my semester and what I will probably move forward doing is just in trusting that the future is promising and I need to trust that.<br />
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Where do I go from here? I continue applying the things I've learned this semester--(1) study habits, (2) scheduling, and (3) doing the things I love. It took me a semester to figure it out, but now I feel like I'm finally back in the groove of things after my mission. I know where I stand. Now it's just a matter of applying and internalizing. Becoming who I need to become and not repeating child-ish mistakes. Winter semester and life--here's to you. This kid will not be slowing down or apologizing. I'm ready to begin again.<br />
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But first, I need to survive finals. Happy Holidays!Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-60077623224953745312012-12-02T23:51:00.000-07:002013-03-18T14:13:46.557-06:00How to move on.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week was a good ease back from break and into finals. No big assignments, no tests, nothing--but that didn't mean there weren't things to worry about. </div>
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<br />It was good to be back on Monday to see everyone. At our committee meeting, me and the boys got a laugh out of our somehow, matching outfits that we didn't plan. The funny part is, none of us noticed until Matt pointed out. Naturally, I had to get pictures of it.</div>
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Tuesday was another BYUSA<i> Meet and Mingle</i>. To me this just meant free food and single girls. Is that bad?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bMmlHOw54r_nBlySMzCUHGhrPzpifjQjh_4h423b_xy4SvpTslSrBk9v-2hGk4dLLZGUhqh5sspWOxkJA6_51kN62dRsxE75xephEp400Q9kEeHSU7634Nbk6EMY8rrnHEUi_rsnx6c/s1600/IMG_0625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bMmlHOw54r_nBlySMzCUHGhrPzpifjQjh_4h423b_xy4SvpTslSrBk9v-2hGk4dLLZGUhqh5sspWOxkJA6_51kN62dRsxE75xephEp400Q9kEeHSU7634Nbk6EMY8rrnHEUi_rsnx6c/s320/IMG_0625.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decorations from the <i>Meet and Mingle</i>.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHDFy_1oMaWdhQGPkfKMIkRuEgHtSRkrA_zz6OM7lJs4bbIGFbOEt4WtaC9GugQ1En0wsEwEHSl9Ppqsp2Ywwn1SGNkT65zRvnVpiy5JA9SpgznrFLVPSiTm3XyyDhGatYWtoTVJCMTs/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHDFy_1oMaWdhQGPkfKMIkRuEgHtSRkrA_zz6OM7lJs4bbIGFbOEt4WtaC9GugQ1En0wsEwEHSl9Ppqsp2Ywwn1SGNkT65zRvnVpiy5JA9SpgznrFLVPSiTm3XyyDhGatYWtoTVJCMTs/s320/IMG_0632.JPG" width="320" /></a>Thursday was pretty packed. I was really nervous because <i>dancEnsemble</i> auditions were that day and I had no idea what to expect or prepare. Luckily I had the support of my committee behind me and... my friends I guess haha. Hailey surprised me the day before with a power bar and some cookies which was definitely what I needed to make it through the day.<br />
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Tryouts were rough, and the situation altogether just wasn't a good situation. I had class so I was a bit late and missed a bunch of instruction and ended up getting set back a lot. I felt like I did well though and that's all that mattered. I found out the next day that I didn't make it in.<br />
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Afterwards we had our volunteer appreciation dinner at the stadium for BYUSA. I was really excited to go with my committee, but every single one of them had every reason not to go at the literal last minute before the event. So with my head a little low, having already been slightly defeated that day from tryouts, I headed over to the appreciation dinner by myself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDR_C0bQwE0e_6sPzgrwX5LooJTnx0L0sTGo_v9wD6AXsx99wi9Uztc5ed28k1uiHQy5zk5t5fcM03bRhUYDHyObWB_cE1PkzwwsLnz5vXSNve9KUDvwvBgE29G_GOAvCwSkgLZQmf50/s1600/18203_10151161710781850_2118828809_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDR_C0bQwE0e_6sPzgrwX5LooJTnx0L0sTGo_v9wD6AXsx99wi9Uztc5ed28k1uiHQy5zk5t5fcM03bRhUYDHyObWB_cE1PkzwwsLnz5vXSNve9KUDvwvBgE29G_GOAvCwSkgLZQmf50/s320/18203_10151161710781850_2118828809_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Regardless, things turned out and I still had a pretty good time with all of my other friends in BYUSA. There were bands, lots of games, and pretty good food. There was even this sweet photo booth that I hit up three times haha.<br />
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The weekend was a pretty big sigh. After rehearsal on Friday, I took Kelsey to meet my best friend Mat and his fiancé Libby, and we went out to sushi for dinner. Kelsey has been like my amazing good news that I really want to share with everyone, and I was really excited for Mat and Libby to meet her. Dinner was so fun! The sushi made it a great experience. Afterwards we got rained on going back to our cars and sent Mat and Libby off early so that Libby could get to bed early for her clinical the next day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCktHfuWzivcKedp5GhJfWrqcZbx2ZKyCEWztPjeM5cd6z9dR_ucQYjDLEo5Opq6t6XC7-wFxTBbImuNCyNJz-OhOvQ5RTnmsjNTIr6MadXlBAnYmNbhv5rHkvr5Pk2cKoUT6Mn7Llhc/s1600/IMG_0635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCktHfuWzivcKedp5GhJfWrqcZbx2ZKyCEWztPjeM5cd6z9dR_ucQYjDLEo5Opq6t6XC7-wFxTBbImuNCyNJz-OhOvQ5RTnmsjNTIr6MadXlBAnYmNbhv5rHkvr5Pk2cKoUT6Mn7Llhc/s320/IMG_0635.jpg" width="240" /></a>Afterwards I spent some time with my roommates and we all chipped in and went shopping for Christmas decorations and then went to BYUSA's Freeze Fest over at Seven Peaks. It was good roommate bonding time and we had a lot of fun picking out decorations and decorating the house. I can't not celebrate Christmas properly and I'm glad we decorated a lot to bring in the Christmas spirit. This season cannot be treated lightly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR4_uFWuxHK2-FAjm_gBV0FVczF2CE0Ezl98XREDtkKwqz_sykwFQPy9J6B2xsMDwEe3LPgwcZrFoynBeLLWcV03f9NUnqGFTWZ16fm1upQmh0PuKFTvDJUMB9EwGq2Vd1isfodnhqRc/s1600/IMG_0638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR4_uFWuxHK2-FAjm_gBV0FVczF2CE0Ezl98XREDtkKwqz_sykwFQPy9J6B2xsMDwEe3LPgwcZrFoynBeLLWcV03f9NUnqGFTWZ16fm1upQmh0PuKFTvDJUMB9EwGq2Vd1isfodnhqRc/s320/IMG_0638.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Nt8CiozBdILSjdquvbSAMlqils6fILjHNyxel7q4Ed9GdVjTpZcMqP_lFgbHpBeJnb0uJxbyq8m0yOJX0ddHc-1fmD7zP3qV8JDNqlsmuTloCq6WKlLSAiZ7vrWPO5dJHGMjKycQWYU/s1600/IMG_0640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Nt8CiozBdILSjdquvbSAMlqils6fILjHNyxel7q4Ed9GdVjTpZcMqP_lFgbHpBeJnb0uJxbyq8m0yOJX0ddHc-1fmD7zP3qV8JDNqlsmuTloCq6WKlLSAiZ7vrWPO5dJHGMjKycQWYU/s320/IMG_0640.JPG" width="320" /></a>Saturday was a bit of a lonely concert day. I went to <i>Christmas Around the World</i>, the folk-dance dance show of a bunch of dances from... around the world haha, and then the huge choir concert called, "A Celebration of Christmas." I really enjoyed both, but it wasn't extremely joyful to just go by myself. Everyone has just been too busy to give time.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span></div>
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Disappointment, failure, and let-downs. They make life miserable. They make life miserable because, unfortunately, you don't always get exactly what you put in to something--or at least we don't think so. You practice hard every day and aren't good enough. You depend on your best friends that you feel will never let you down and they have different priorities. You feel like you're getting somewhere in life and then you don't make it. You are defeated from all sides, and the places where you thought were safe to stand aren't.</div>
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When the choir concert ended, I was in tears, first, because of how beautiful it was, and second, partially because I would have loved to enjoy a friend's company there. As I was about to walk out, I heard something familiar. Tagalog. </div>
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I turned around, and sure enough a big Filipino family was right behind me. You don't have to tell me twice to talk to a Filipino. I was over and met each and every single one of them. Finding other Filipinos in the states is always such a warm experience. It's like finding relatives you've never had before. They hugged me and talked to me like they had known me forever. They took pictures with me, took my number, and told me they would invite me over whenever they had family get-togethers, because as far as they were concerned, I was family too. I felt at peace talking to them. It was exactly what I needed on my night of no invites.</div>
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Now that probably sounds stupid and irrelevant, but that seemed to be the theme of my week. At it's worst, when life tried to suffocate me, things always lightened up--just in the way I needed. Every time I thought no one was there watching me, someone was there to help me up.</div>
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When heartaches come, moving on, forgiving people, and letting go are hard things to do. You want to hold grudges or think of ways you could have done something better. It's human. We feel like holding people to their mistakes or keeping these "what-if" thoughts will help us to move on, but they don't. They hold us back.</div>
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You move on by letting go of everything that ties you down. Forget what could have been. Remember that people aren't perfect. Realize that bad news is always undone by good news to follow. You can't move forward safely by persistently looking through the rearview mirror. Let go because it get's better. Let go to make it better for others. Let go for you.</div>
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Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-54938311306791865482012-11-26T23:55:00.000-07:002012-11-26T00:35:25.564-07:00What you don't need.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This blog will be short and sweet.</div>
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This week was the shortest-long week ever. It was Thanksgiving week! Monday and Tuesday were extremely short and irrelevant.</div>
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Wednesday I headed home and had such a great weekend!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmC6rv2ezQQ9M1vot4ad4lHRmnfdhN7KNhyphenhyphenm7BquayGmujPOlkkpicWxIlRXAzBk-UR7DRoGLjvDOtLClMRqCkZSnrKAbYCYFwMZrUGVNpvGUZL0vwyZ3p8ayOg0KaL65YYLiGrZ51DI/s1600/DSC_2739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmC6rv2ezQQ9M1vot4ad4lHRmnfdhN7KNhyphenhyphenm7BquayGmujPOlkkpicWxIlRXAzBk-UR7DRoGLjvDOtLClMRqCkZSnrKAbYCYFwMZrUGVNpvGUZL0vwyZ3p8ayOg0KaL65YYLiGrZ51DI/s320/DSC_2739.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Thanksgiving meal of the day at Farah's.</td></tr>
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I have been looking forward to this Thanksgiving weekend for years. It's been strange being in a country that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving and was really nice to be home and around family. It was nothing but lots of family time, fun, shopping, and holiday stuff. Couldn't ask for the weekend to be much better!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready for Santa!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facetime-ing my baby cousin in Hawaii.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'll be getting some of these in the mail!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So What?</span><br />
After all the shopping and responding to the what-do-you-want-for-Christmas questions, a quote continually popped into my head that I retweeted a few days back from Dallin H. Oaks that reads:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> "<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">You can never get enough of what you don’t need, because what you don’t need won’t satisfy you." </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">How often I thought of how I try to fill my life with things I think that I need, but don't, and realize that the life I'm trying to fill isn't becoming whole.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I've realized this weekend the most fulfilling things in life are found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ which ultimately revolves around my family. Everything in life revolves around family. Getting an education to be able to support a family. Being obedient to help to bless my family. Working hard to thank my family. It's all about family. Forget the clothes, the popular kids, and the </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">irrelevant</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> ranks. Maybe on some people's standards I'm not succeeding in life with priorities I have, but my life is full and filled with the things I need--realizing and accepting that is the challenge.</span></span></span><br />
<br />Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-90066018583264906892012-11-18T23:55:00.001-07:002012-11-22T23:31:39.602-07:00When everything happens at once.Now I'm good. A few days ago on the other hand, life was like nut bolts in a blender. I'm not even sure what that even means.<br />
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This week has been crazy!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictures from the party at The Isles last week.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxzHyAKJMh0Uq3gApMTAvvALPaJtDgtvLA8My8a8LtZX54xjrWOF_hKJ7awAY-bAfUefnNP258ChNfrwFWaZjWsXh27B7O5QOcq0CLXV4ydlXE7XuxBzYVjcG6jbb8JCKouJa2IGTFhY/s1600/IMG_0571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxzHyAKJMh0Uq3gApMTAvvALPaJtDgtvLA8My8a8LtZX54xjrWOF_hKJ7awAY-bAfUefnNP258ChNfrwFWaZjWsXh27B7O5QOcq0CLXV4ydlXE7XuxBzYVjcG6jbb8JCKouJa2IGTFhY/s320/IMG_0571.JPG" width="320" /></a>Monday started out cold and early. The girls on my committee and I got up early to go do baptisms at the temple. It was really cold and I didn't have any gloves, so I just used a pair of clean socks to drive with. It was a really special day for Nicole which brought us all to tears. She had come ready to do the work for her grandma which she had been putting off for a couple years. It was really special that she chose to do it on that day with us. We were all so lucky to be a part of it.</div>
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Afterwards, sitting in my next classes, the reality of the week ahead dawned on me:</div>
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Auditions.</div>
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Performances.</div>
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Tests.</div>
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This week was going to destroy me. Why is it that everything important always happens the same week? It was almost like the feeling you have right before you go down a really tall water slide or get on a really scary-looking roller coaster. Excited but clueless as to what will happen to you.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6QkB-XJEf75T6t_TBC0rxSREMSJV5dVvhPoOy1LPo4D6-oj8HJSP2uhpaWtqPC6RBQa47z7CIUxrxDmixPwIISliJb_zlb5RcvtFnc9iSGJ0mdm8kDGUlvIH4aQJULO0W9oEf2Doj_4/s1600/IMG_0578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6QkB-XJEf75T6t_TBC0rxSREMSJV5dVvhPoOy1LPo4D6-oj8HJSP2uhpaWtqPC6RBQa47z7CIUxrxDmixPwIISliJb_zlb5RcvtFnc9iSGJ0mdm8kDGUlvIH4aQJULO0W9oEf2Doj_4/s320/IMG_0578.JPG" width="320" /></a>The rest of Monday was a blur to me. All I remember is giving blood with Matt K. and then meeting up with Mat S. at the library later on that day. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx_vp5u-Ojed6mVIgOc18RaeB9cxqVPEYEmnFFAEAP33RmGOxgU8Xu6yTtIjJCkbo2Auac-UF8cVTFkh4h70SoARBOi78EeuNzeeeexSB_mJP9edsPOWzejXPDCSa_gXQ6w0xIkZNPo0/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx_vp5u-Ojed6mVIgOc18RaeB9cxqVPEYEmnFFAEAP33RmGOxgU8Xu6yTtIjJCkbo2Auac-UF8cVTFkh4h70SoARBOi78EeuNzeeeexSB_mJP9edsPOWzejXPDCSa_gXQ6w0xIkZNPo0/s320/IMG_0579.JPG" width="320" /></a>Tuesday we started filming students for our gratitude video project that my committee and I are doing for BYUSA. The idea evolved off of a lot of other small ideas. The first was to do a gratitude chain, which turned into a puzzle, which turned into a video. So Matt and I teamed up and the others teamed up as well in going around campus and reaching out to students giving them a shot to be in the video. While we were filming, we ran into this cool mural in the JKB which actually was really interesting. </div>
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I ran around the rest of the day literally all the way until I went to bed. We had an Elders Quorum Presidency meeting that night and I had to film my dance portion of my audition for MDT that night also which was killer as well. Sleep at this point seemed to be optional.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone was so beat after the show.</td></tr>
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Wednesday was lots and lots of singing: Claire and I worked on recording my singing and acting portions of my MDT audition all morning, I had a singing exam in one of my voice classes, and then GLEEYU performed at BYU's Got Talent later on that evening. It was a really long day between singing, classes, and homework. I barely had time to eat. The whole day my group and I for my MCOM class were also coordinating back and forth for our group project that we were scheduled to present the next day. It was a really crazy day. So crazy that I can't even write about it without it coming out crazy.</div>
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Thursday was the day to hit breaking point.</div>
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We had our BYUSA lunch-time activity filming kids that afternoon, the MDT audition was due, and we had our group project presentation in MCOM all in one day, within an hour or two of each other. Putting the MDT audition together was the most time consuming, editing and finding times to edit and what not. I had problems with my computer so I had to use the media lab which was conveniently closed the one hour I was free. Somehow, someway though, everything worked out though and everything turned out okay. After 5:00pm that day, my hectic week was over.</div>
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I got that home and sat on the couch that night and did nothing. It felt weird but great. Everything had somehow worked out that week, the Glee "Glease" premiere was that night, and I had planned to have friends over as well. Matt and I along with my roommates hit up Mountain West Burrito for dinner and then spent the rest of the night just hanging out and studying. Later, Emily and her clan came over and we all just relaxed for the rest of the night. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqgZgEADHOPzr_CRaVoN0jjsn6mKWViyL0KYmuwdJ9fMcjfQQvbL7rMO0T7R44tzGpGq7vwswqMfVzrKvP_UMJ1JG6hg3e0mm4BsA5gMYFYZe2SmDpk3gDJBjPstigZgP50NvuUoIzOA/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqgZgEADHOPzr_CRaVoN0jjsn6mKWViyL0KYmuwdJ9fMcjfQQvbL7rMO0T7R44tzGpGq7vwswqMfVzrKvP_UMJ1JG6hg3e0mm4BsA5gMYFYZe2SmDpk3gDJBjPstigZgP50NvuUoIzOA/s320/IMG_0586.JPG" width="320" /></a>My wingman called me up around eleven though and turned out we had work to do. If there's anything I think he and I can take credit for, it's that we really put thought into expressing ourselves to girls. It was Kelli's first day of performance the next day and Matt wanted to do something special for her. Whenever one of us is stuck as far as girls... or I guess anything (usually just girls or food haha) we call each other and bounce ideas off of each other. So we went grocery shopping at midnight and put together a small, healthy breakfast for her the next morning. I think it turned out really well. I know for sure Kelli loved it--even though we had to try twice for her to answer the door.</div>
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The week ended well with my date with Kelsey that I had been looking forward to all week. Kelsey is such an amazing girl with the best personality. She is the girl that walks in the room and makes everyone feel good about their self. The girl that you see around campus just when you're having a crumby day and finds a way to make you smile. The girl that just is the best.</div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/74747_10152261397585392_48522586_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/74747_10152261397585392_48522586_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>We went out to see Jake perform in his Vocal Point concert that night after a great dinner at Communal. It was hands down the best date I had been on all semester--if not the best date I've ever gone on period. It's been a really long time since I've enjoyed someone's company like that. Jake also did great on his concert and I'm so proud to be his friend. It was also great to see Sadie and catch up with her and their lives. </div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/311459_10152261392625392_295846316_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/311459_10152261392625392_295846316_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>The next morning, I got up early with my committee, roommates, and Kelsey to go volunteer at a nursing home. It was a really heart-warming experience. I felt like I was looking through tears the whole time I was inside helping these people. It really made me want to volunteer and serve others more. I missed feeling that way everyday like I did while I was a missionary. I'm not sure there is anything that can hold you heart the way that serving someone else does.</div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/262090_10152261382060392_1380438186_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/262090_10152261382060392_1380438186_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Right after we had our last GLEEYU rehearsal before break and all went to Panda after. It was so much fun. I love these kids so much. We are having a blast putting together our last number for BYU's Got Talent. Being with them you can never expect any less than laughing, smiles, and happy faces. You can't not be happy doing what you love and sharing that with other people.</div>
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<a href="http://news.byu.edu/releases/archive12/Nov/dancensemble/danceEnsemble_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://news.byu.edu/releases/archive12/Nov/dancensemble/danceEnsemble_FINAL.jpg" width="207" /></a>I spent the rest of Saturday getting concert-ed out. That afternoon, I went with Matt's girlfriend's mom (Kelli's mom) to go watch her perform in the dancEnsemble show. Kelli did amazing. It was the first dance show I had ever seen at BYU and although I wasn't completely blown away, I was blown away by a handful of pieces, especially the ones Kelli was in. </div>
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<a href="http://mattnielsen.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/and-then-there-was-light.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://mattnielsen.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/and-then-there-was-light.jpeg" width="320" /></a>Later on that night, I went on a brodate with Michael to the BYU Singers and Concert Choir concert. They are known to be BYU's finest choral performing groups and some of the best in the nation. There were several <i>wow</i> moments, although I was struggling staying awake because of the temperature of the room and the lack of energy I had from the lack of sleep of the whole previous week. Regardless, it was a great concert.</div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579172_10152264648720392_1939188289_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579172_10152264648720392_1939188289_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Finally, Sunday was the end to a great week. A few of the kids from Salt Lake drove down for a small mission reunion with Sister Justiniano. It was the first time I had seen most of them after the mission and I couldn't explain how happy I was to see them. There's just something different about being with your mission friends. I especially looked up to most of these kids while I was on the mission so this reunion was really special to me. We had a great time reminiscing and playing Filipino games. It was a fantastic way to end such a rocky week.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span></div>
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This week I've thought a lot about how often everyone has long weeks like this. I thought about the comment I made a few weeks back when Professor Middleton caught me saying that after this test on this day my life would get better. Does life work like that though? And should it? Should we just endure in spurts only looking forward to the one or two days of peace we'll have, after the matter of fact ,only to be in pain again when the next trial comes? Does that make sense?</div>
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When Professor Middleton caught me word-vomitting that day about living from exam to exam, or from one difficulty to the next, thinking life was going to get easier after the next test or struggle, she opened my eyes to see how incorrect that was.</div>
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When we look at our lives, I think we all can agree that at no point have the trials or circumstances we live in gotten easier, nor will they ever. You grow and so do the tests that are put before you whether in school or out. After thinking a lot about what Professor Middleton taught me that night, this is what I've concluded.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.sportslawtalk.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/olympic-bench-press11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sportslawtalk.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/olympic-bench-press11.jpg" /></a>The trials we all will encounter in life will not get easier but they will. It's kind of like weight-lifting. The weights don't change how much they weigh, they just are what they are. When you are first starting to weight lift, benching a bar can be difficult. However as you train, benching that same weight will get easier--not because the weight has gotten lighter, but because you have gotten stronger. Eventually, you'll be able to add weight and make that weight feel lighter. And add weight again, and make that weight feel lighter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvKy4edl14yM4JfQdEV-BDHXM2H16EmAN1D4-I1CBbRorEBnwdKUKaf5kvFJ8KSBd5Tjw9msJSR_KJlT1P5TslGs6yrdEQeCQ3aLcGr0qlQxMcNqCSNqXfI-984ZXELhDPoDvS2fVpTNo/s1600/benchpress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvKy4edl14yM4JfQdEV-BDHXM2H16EmAN1D4-I1CBbRorEBnwdKUKaf5kvFJ8KSBd5Tjw9msJSR_KJlT1P5TslGs6yrdEQeCQ3aLcGr0qlQxMcNqCSNqXfI-984ZXELhDPoDvS2fVpTNo/s1600/benchpress.jpg" /></a>That's also how life is, assuming we train and apply ourselves correctly. The more we approach our trials and tests of all kinds with positivity, faith, and trust in the good around us and not on instant and temporal gratification after the trial, the more our capacity to endure through tests and trials will increase. Thus, when the weeks where everything happens as once comes, we will be ready--not because it will be easy, but because we are strong enough to get through. Tough times don't last, but tough people do.</div>
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I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! Come back ready for finals--we've got some trying weeks ahead to get through!</div>
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<br />Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-84598207316449029622012-11-11T21:53:00.001-07:002012-11-11T21:54:12.378-07:00Discouragements that aren't painful.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Every week is seven days long but it seems like some have fewer days and others have more. This week went by fairly quickly. I feel like I've only lived a couple more days than from the last time I posted a blog on here.</div>
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I've noticed that the blogs with titles that talk about the difficulties of life tend to attract more readers, so I'll try to cater to your needs a little more.</div>
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This week started out extremely hectic. I had a huge paper due and an exam in a class that I wasn't doing so hot in to begin with. The first few days were indeed chaotic and stressful, but by the time both of those were over, I found myself in a strange new setting not knowing what to do with all of my free-time.</div>
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My paper went really well. It's surprising how good something can turn out when you don't rush it and actually spend time on it. I felt really good turning it in and feel like I'll get a really decent score on it. If I don't, I believe there is no effort ever wasted.</div>
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My test also went really well, given the circumstances. I have been behind in that class all semester so it was nice to finally study hard and catch up. I ended with a score significantly higher than my last exam which really made me happy.</div>
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After those two hills were conquered, I found myself with the oddest thing ever in possession--free time. It was long-awaited and well-needed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMTHKR8sEaf9KYJ_IcPsgxGfw7_aiXmoImgre9Ego0VmgNLEfm9oJ971Fwh8DtAcKtQeira3n-MRVV0pTOXlfw5lL7FfYhSDs6fI4UjcLjh1WgsVYKPxuVHEN3D2tjYpBNMAtQ8WzFwo/s1600/IMG_0513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMTHKR8sEaf9KYJ_IcPsgxGfw7_aiXmoImgre9Ego0VmgNLEfm9oJ971Fwh8DtAcKtQeira3n-MRVV0pTOXlfw5lL7FfYhSDs6fI4UjcLjh1WgsVYKPxuVHEN3D2tjYpBNMAtQ8WzFwo/s320/IMG_0513.jpg" width="320" /></a>On Wednesday I attended Mat's jazz combo concert. He did a great job! It was good to see him perform again and do something that he loves. If you don't know already, I owe my conversion to the LDS church to Mat and met Mat through high school band. He's the best friend I could ever ask for and literally changed my life. Seeing him play the drums again was really refreshing. There aren't many things in life that make me happier than seeing my friends do the things they love.</div>
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The next day was fairly hectic. I was running around with my head cut off pretty much the whole day. I rehearsed, went to a bunch of small snippets in the business school to get advice on selecting a major, and then went with Mat to a modern music concert which was... interesting. I saw everything from saws being played on with string bows to pots being played like church bells. This picture was my favorite (if I had to choose such). It was three of the lowest-sounding instruments playing a 15-minute song on the three lowest notes of their instruments. Strange? That was about as musical as that concert got. I did not endure through the whole concert. Mat and Tyler, however, did.<br />
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Friday was a complete turn around weather-wise. We went from low 70s to the 30s, not even over-night, but in the matter of hours.<br />
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When I left the RB from dancing with Emily on Thursday night, I left in a t-shirt and shorts and was not even a little cold. It was extremely warm out. The next morning I woke up early to dance again and left in a t-shirt and shorts and wasn't cold at all. When I got to the RB, it started to rain. When I left the RB, it started to snow. By the time I got to class nearly an hour later, it was a complete blizzard outside. Oh how I did not miss Utah weather.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD82kt4qwwmsDCMT2rd1zkFn_qApHt_kjP9iIAV41nXop8iyDWtMMw6mJCFnrqhooNEt6uZ4AyIcZgk50Xu_QAGSH3LdTY46dJRYLII6xeRRXXZD23f4TrWMgxMjz2wExM3bKGPY_wkO8/s1600/IMG_0556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD82kt4qwwmsDCMT2rd1zkFn_qApHt_kjP9iIAV41nXop8iyDWtMMw6mJCFnrqhooNEt6uZ4AyIcZgk50Xu_QAGSH3LdTY46dJRYLII6xeRRXXZD23f4TrWMgxMjz2wExM3bKGPY_wkO8/s320/IMG_0556.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Emily made me a great lunch that day and I was able to spend a little bit of time with her and Kim until they're roommate went psycho on us and yelled at us for eating 1 1/2 of her cupcakes. I'm not even going to comment on this situation because it could have been handled better by all of us and ruined a large part of my day and weekend. Regardless, the grilled cheese that Emily made me as well as the cold glass of milk was extremely delicious, despite the fact that I was in pain hours later because I'm lactose-intolerant haha.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjlbDXpEp7DtuzfIbwKyp4VDr8d0RByoDSnxiqBlvHOpa2OqqsJcccRq4QImRuI203HVBI1O9-2VJEkWJamM2gZoShM1kWOJS_BHVK6u2YHKshEDe058CwspVb4Bgb9fzCxS3YXaMReE/s1600/IMG_0562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjlbDXpEp7DtuzfIbwKyp4VDr8d0RByoDSnxiqBlvHOpa2OqqsJcccRq4QImRuI203HVBI1O9-2VJEkWJamM2gZoShM1kWOJS_BHVK6u2YHKshEDe058CwspVb4Bgb9fzCxS3YXaMReE/s320/IMG_0562.jpg" width="240" /></a>Yesterday was precious. I woke up early to be taken out to breakfast by a good friend before GLEEYU rehearsal, and then spent the rest of the day on a bro-date with Michael. I felt like it was really needed. I've had a lot of difficulty being a good house-mate to the other guys I live with because I just simply don't share the same interests that they do. I tried my best at the beginning of the semester to make our house like a family, but after efforts seemed pointless, I just gave up and started to do my own thing. So yesterday, I realized that if I do move out next semester, I should at least leave this place well and make-up for lost time, so I spent some time with Mike buying stuff at Walmart, getting his haircut, and having dinner. Its so hard to stay intact with people in life without giving them time to mean something to you.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span></div>
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During Music 201 on Monday, some of the people I sit around and I decided to play <i>The Game of Life</i> instead of pay attention to our professor. The best decision to make? Probably not, but Life is one of my favorite games and it seemed so much more appealing to me than my professor at the time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsy553fcGB8nAoaz7xc4m6a1kc0tuvHt7YBULef55tHxJr8PZCW_p_rrkp6lKcDzjotXQHerknGI3xHNGpqSrS1E7C6mpUY5_NPojUrEM2tuBbDr53vseMiFr6y8Q3Oip5Acvb6ztA8M/s1600/IMG_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsy553fcGB8nAoaz7xc4m6a1kc0tuvHt7YBULef55tHxJr8PZCW_p_rrkp6lKcDzjotXQHerknGI3xHNGpqSrS1E7C6mpUY5_NPojUrEM2tuBbDr53vseMiFr6y8Q3Oip5Acvb6ztA8M/s320/IMG_0505.JPG" width="320" /></a>I love how the game exposes how simply complicated life can be. It's realistic to a very large extent. Decisions, random misfortunes, and most of the time, a happy ending. It' easy and fun because there really is nothing at stake aside of paper money and bragging rights. Is the actual game of life much different?</div>
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Something I realized last night is how much I just do not like where I am working right now. Ok, I didn't just realize that last night, I've known since the first day that I wouldn't like working where I do. The labor is rough. The hours are long. The perks are great though. Kind of.</div>
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I dread it though. I dread being scheduled. I dread working. I dread everything about it regardless of how much I'm getting paid. Being there makes me miserable.</div>
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On the other hand, it's finally time for me to record my DVD to send in for Musical Dance Theater auditions. It has been a long month of preparation. Learning how to act and dance as well as prepare my songs has not been easy. It's been a lot of long hours of rehearsal and memorizing as well as hair-pulling and headaches. </div>
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I get discouraged daily trying to run after a dream of a life of me just being able to do what I love. I hear amazing singers. I see amazing dancers. I watch amazing actors. And then, I see myself. I frequently feel like I've started too late and that things can never work out. </div>
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Practicing has been hard, and people have promised to help and let me down. But there is a huge difference between this and the job I have right now.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span></div>
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What I realized last night is that life for me in the future will be very much as it is now if I pick a job that I don't like. Regardless of how much money or the perks it has to offer, I will be nothing but breathing misery. Money alone isn't an incentive for me to waste the one life I have getting an education and working for something that just makes me want to not be alive anyway.</div>
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The difference is that when I get discouragements doing things I love though, no matter how much time I have to put in or how difficult it is, I am happy. </div>
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I've finally hit a point this week in dancing that I'm good enough to get through my audition number, and enjoy it. On Friday, I woke up super early and danced for hours, doing the same thing over and over again, and it never got old.</div>
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It's like singing my favorite songs at the top of my lungs or hitting notes out of this atmosphere.</div>
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It's like walking out of a pool after a good workout.</div>
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It's like getting hugs from my mom.</div>
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It's the few things in life that I love and always deliver the equal or greater satisfaction to me.</div>
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Discouragements will always come. Situations will always change. Random misfortunes will always happen. But they don't don't always have to hurt. None of that matters as long as you are doing everything you can to make the life that you feel is best for you. I've had a lot people tell me that it's not worth it and it's too risky to try to make a living off of what I want, but I'm okay with that. What makes me happy is what makes me happy and I've decided that I'm going to stop doing in life what just isn't for me.</div>
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Life, as cliche as it sounds, is too short. I'm not going to waste it. And you shouldn't either.</div>
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<br />Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-84563719525217444252012-11-04T23:42:00.000-07:002012-11-05T00:50:52.544-07:00Prepare continually.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm tired.</div>
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It's been a few years since I've experienced the semi-annual event of <i>daylight savings </i>and I am feeling the lag. I can't believe it's nearly Thanksgiving and... MY BEST FRIENDS AARON AND SPENCER COME HOME FROM THEIR MISSIONS THIS WEEK!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Tingey second from the left! Can't wait to see him!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving back to Provo from Vegas freshman year.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suffering through calculus wearing our opposite-colored outfits.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Simon!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time hiking the Y freshman year.</td></tr>
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Can't explain how excited I am to see them both! Maybe I'll drive home next weekend.</div>
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Anyway.</div>
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This week wasn't a bad week but at the same time it wasn't a stellar week. It was just a week. It just... was. Does that make sense?</div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/523551_10151271144346101_824442968_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/523551_10151271144346101_824442968_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Tuesday we had our Symphonic Band Concert, <i>Music in Motion</i>. Somehow, someway, I seemed to have forgotten that I had a band concert this week until the day of, so I wasn't really able to invite anyone which was a bit depressing. My few good friends had tests and everyone else just had better things to do. Kirt took my complimentary tickets and my friend Lauren from BYUSA was able to make it as well which was nice. The concert overall went well and I got to introduce the first two pieces which was a first time experience for me. Afterwards, I spent the rest of my night with Elina and Marinne suffering on the dance floor struggling to get this MDT audition up to par. I was extremely sore for the next few days after.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BYU Symphonic Band Clarinet Section Fall 2012</td></tr>
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<a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/407639_10152221152325392_362777914_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/407639_10152221152325392_362777914_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Wednesday was Halloween. I had looked forward to Halloween for so long while I was a missionary and missed the holiday a lot in the Philippines. Regardless, this Halloween I didn't do anything special. We did have another low-key <i>blender event</i> and passed out candy around campus but nothing too crazy. Later, I got to catch up with my good friend Ryan from freshman year and then put on my hanous free orange shirt that GLEEYU got for free from <i>BYU Goes Broadway</i>, went to the gym, and then attempted to dance for the rest of the night. That was it. Happy Halloween.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister J let us have a small Filipino dinner for class that day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Halloween.</td></tr>
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On the contrast to a boring week, my weekend was really fun!</div>
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<a href="http://www.thechocolatedc.com/img/gallery/images/0food22-R5-E001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://www.thechocolatedc.com/img/gallery/images/0food22-R5-E001.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>On Friday I went on a semi-blind date with a girl named Heidi who is on the <i>BYU Contemporary Dance Theatre Team</i>, but she's more than that title. Heidi is a sweetheart, and I had a great time with her that night. Even though she had to work in the anatomy lab until 9pm that night, she still made time for our simple date. We went to this place called <i><a href="http://www.thechocolatedc.com/" target="_blank">The Chocolate</a>,</i> which is a small dessert cafe that is a really neat social place. We spent the night doing first-date-usuals and got to know each other a little better. I don't want to go super into detail on dates on the internet so forgive me. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K4Rz1kb6CL3iwQnAur8CVu7COVF5mZ7nKaHYVwe3Yzgxgd63d5I483LcKzkG6ZnqVjbyXPOHPCnulWNN1oJ6rnUtL5bxJCMTgWO_Um4J9YIZkR18gd0EMRYWgteBxfDVAEniU3vC8wQ/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K4Rz1kb6CL3iwQnAur8CVu7COVF5mZ7nKaHYVwe3Yzgxgd63d5I483LcKzkG6ZnqVjbyXPOHPCnulWNN1oJ6rnUtL5bxJCMTgWO_Um4J9YIZkR18gd0EMRYWgteBxfDVAEniU3vC8wQ/s320/IMG_0488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/557837_10152224174830392_2132609277_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/557837_10152224174830392_2132609277_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Saturday was a bit hectic and a little lonely. It mostly consisted of taking care of things for my calling, cleaning, rehearsal, and studying. After all that was over, I decided that I needed to just take a break from everything and make time to go to the temple. I hadn't been since I've been home from my mission which is extremely sad. I realized how much I regretted waiting that long yesterday. Getting to attend a session yesterday was amazing and extremely rejuvenating. It was the pick-me-up I've needed for a really long time.</div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/545270_10152224579550392_282582903_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/545270_10152224579550392_282582903_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>While I was there, I ran into Chase who I've been trying to catch up with for a really long time. So we made a pact to hangout that night, and it was a really good decision. After I came home and ate, I met up with another good friend, Addison, and caught up for a bit and talked about how we were both going to endure through the accounting program someday here at BYU. Afterwards, I met up with Chase at this party at<i> the Isles</i>. Best decision of the week. The party was so much fun! It was so great to meet a bunch of new people and just have fun and dance for the night. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the Isles and am really thinking about moving there next semester. It's all brand new, extremely social, and is all one ward. It's also right next to the RB which is where I basically live nowadays anyway haha. We'll see, I do love the ward I'm in now too--at least have grown to love it.</div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/293776_10152227511560392_2067023808_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/293776_10152227511560392_2067023808_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Today was a busy Sunday too. I spent the day home teaching with Matt and cooking all of my food for the whole week with Mike. We easily cooked over 20 lbs. of food--no exaggeration. It was a good move though. Everything is pretty much prepared for the whole week so cooking fresh meals will be extremely quick. Tonight we had a CES fireside that I watched with my wingman, Matt, and it was also donut night since it was first Sunday of the month. Definitely something I've been looking forward to for a long time. Their donuts are unexplainably delicious.</div>
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And that was my week. Sorry for the lack of excitement.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span><br />
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I found myself this week jumping from rock to rock on one leg. With all the things going on--whether it be academics, BYU/SA, GLEEYU, work, or anything else--everything just seemed so out of control. I was living from big event to big event, thinking that life was going to slow down after this performance or this test. I was forgetting about things I needed to do in general over-time and was just preparing for what could possibly the next biggest tragedy in my life; i.e. tests, papers, etc. Not a smart decision. Living until the next hurdle is over only brings you to a realization that the hurdles aren't going to stop coming. In fact, they'll probably come closer and faster than the previous.<br />
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Life can't be lived like that. You can't just focus on the next, closest thing that will happen and abandon all others until they become close to being important too. Life isn't made to work that day. There needs to be structure. I'm going to do my best this week and forever to not let this idea affect me and work on not just focusing on what's next but what is coming as well. You need to be consistently and continually preparing for possible disasters that could happen. If not, you'll just be running frantically for the rest of your life from one disaster to the next with no direction.<br />
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Keep the future. Adjust to the present. Use the past. It's all in your hands.<br />
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Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-48842981961332022002012-10-28T23:56:00.006-06:002012-11-04T23:43:02.903-07:00The pain of the beginning.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve been staring for the computer screen here on the bus for awhile now. I think this is definitely the hardest part of blogging—beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/184998_10152195328325392_1707525368_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/184998_10152195328325392_1707525368_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week has been a complete turn around from the past month and easily the best week I’ve had in a really long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Monday I started hitting it hard with my audition material for musical dance theater. Putting together the things for this audition has been extremely enjoyable. On Monday, I started working with Julia, one of my friends from GLEEYU who is an MDT major and is also in the Young Ambassadors. She helped me a lot and gave me a lot of feedback on the vocal aspect of the audition. Then later on that day I met up with Ben, another student in the program well-known for his acting, and picked out my monologues for the acting portions. And then—as if that wasn’t enough for one day—I went to a workshop with my vocal coach on <i>acting while singing</i>. Definitely put a spin on my singing. Amanda (the professor who ran the workshop) really tore me up. I have never had someone yell at me while singing. It was extremely helpful, and I feel like I grew a lot from the few pointers she gave me for my audition. Finally when all that was over, I just danced for the rest of the night. What a good way to start the week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wednesday we had our first GLEEYU performance at <i>BYU Goes Broadway </i>as the closing number. I can’t explain to you how excited and happy I was the whole day looking forward to it; not to mention I bought this awesome red bowtie the night before and was super excited to wear it haha.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was really nervous because it was the first time I had ever sang in front of people, but my friends along with the other members of the glee club made it so much better. The club was different that night. There was a different kind of bond and love between each of us and singing that night with them was different than any other occasion we had sung together. Aside of nerves, we had a great performance and had so much fun! We even got interviewed for TV afterwards! The best part for me, aside of being able to sing at the top of my lungs with some of my best friends, was to see all my friends there to support me. Some came too late but just knowing that they were going to come regardless to support me meant so much to me.</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwh0JhnTc3Fq6KGpi1ywnEuKttydEJPLb3tmDuMWAqtWrKG9R9U6rdz-a2wEcvFTQeR-C52SUzjiGGsNMNldPvZtRZpC9NRTcu_GzU97JYnFujnGC26SkCwZTzzg7BaiaTNeu3XMoGjHc/s1600/IMG_7150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwh0JhnTc3Fq6KGpi1ywnEuKttydEJPLb3tmDuMWAqtWrKG9R9U6rdz-a2wEcvFTQeR-C52SUzjiGGsNMNldPvZtRZpC9NRTcu_GzU97JYnFujnGC26SkCwZTzzg7BaiaTNeu3XMoGjHc/s320/IMG_7150.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">GLEEYU Fall 2012</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5Z9QKfJ4REoNgXQvRBeQfgKvHInIoTqe_l7OBbomS7d974wrBKsW_QI9NDJFT7a8T9syMwKQFlO6OnvMhBsCFWz4aQMw1bPKMJzJDt9ucT7nk1Zkmat9sE3cT8lHmC8vtDBI_yMeHbs/s1600/IMG_7154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5Z9QKfJ4REoNgXQvRBeQfgKvHInIoTqe_l7OBbomS7d974wrBKsW_QI9NDJFT7a8T9syMwKQFlO6OnvMhBsCFWz4aQMw1bPKMJzJDt9ucT7nk1Zkmat9sE3cT8lHmC8vtDBI_yMeHbs/s320/IMG_7154.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Julia!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0uw-SibJNg-cXPWrLMn9ecTpFlQ0CP2263fr85xsP2BfsG3w2-PctLUl0l49g_k6Hykmt9AlJ5m4DBCNc2y7a9sscvbm90zuLvzQsZIpNiFCooiNLxedc7GLVgGkbYFWHzaiZpfeHZQ/s1600/IMG_7156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0uw-SibJNg-cXPWrLMn9ecTpFlQ0CP2263fr85xsP2BfsG3w2-PctLUl0l49g_k6Hykmt9AlJ5m4DBCNc2y7a9sscvbm90zuLvzQsZIpNiFCooiNLxedc7GLVgGkbYFWHzaiZpfeHZQ/s320/IMG_7156.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously, one of the funniest kids you'll ever meet.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJFIShSdhRxQwCqLQnnYxEF3wRz_YFH03rRrFjA0_WqYFUn9kJF6sCo9fb8yIXyl5W-mesm7OPIE861CMYgXyrVU0ssivjgeMOPLQAzaU6bKwPCJQpGliYNugeY2qPvaDaa3DooWqdXs/s1600/IMG_7157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJFIShSdhRxQwCqLQnnYxEF3wRz_YFH03rRrFjA0_WqYFUn9kJF6sCo9fb8yIXyl5W-mesm7OPIE861CMYgXyrVU0ssivjgeMOPLQAzaU6bKwPCJQpGliYNugeY2qPvaDaa3DooWqdXs/s320/IMG_7157.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love them so much!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Explains it all.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1t3E1FeezlRVSeBdwrp3THvVul9NBtoWQVcqYBur486pyrHzfhB1OXAZo-DhJtwim5ONqILovY79E8rgC812ks_wnGKv1QQtxFI9LsK-prb-KiiJVKc5h7izo76ap970sHgtUJ_88-u8/s1600/IMG_7160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1t3E1FeezlRVSeBdwrp3THvVul9NBtoWQVcqYBur486pyrHzfhB1OXAZo-DhJtwim5ONqILovY79E8rgC812ks_wnGKv1QQtxFI9LsK-prb-KiiJVKc5h7izo76ap970sHgtUJ_88-u8/s320/IMG_7160.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVwvCemi9f_qgfIJsgCMOMvGeLTFOksWxBtVUelW9_FdO7zgLvrsRpHqp8m-63YL3a4PNM4iEaoeOfb84p9WFJSAl0Hia92oX-2yTnp7_qOVkJBiYG5CTID2ELvi1kc5fr4YakJHiitE/s1600/IMG_7165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVwvCemi9f_qgfIJsgCMOMvGeLTFOksWxBtVUelW9_FdO7zgLvrsRpHqp8m-63YL3a4PNM4iEaoeOfb84p9WFJSAl0Hia92oX-2yTnp7_qOVkJBiYG5CTID2ELvi1kc5fr4YakJHiitE/s320/IMG_7165.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday, I thought my good week was going to end when I woke up to the year’s first snow. Now I love snow just as much as the next person, but we were supposed to hold our first blender event that day outside and there was no option of moving it inside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Your probably wondering what on earth this <i>Blender Event</i> is that I always mention and talk about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The <i>Blender Event</i> is a series of events that occur a handful of times each semester. They're different in that they try to reach different students at BYU through the nature of the event. The event is seen as a spontaneous event on campus and is not advertised beforehand on purpose. Advertisement encourages students to come to us and usually reaches the same, small percent that give time to event notice the advertisements anyway. The Blender Event, however, encourages the opposite. It's named the <i>Blender Event</i> based off of the idea of a blender—taking the insides out and outsides in mixing everything together. So, when we hold events, instead of asking students to come to us, we send students out to students and come to them instead.</span></div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/559370_4943265698146_852375122_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/559370_4943265698146_852375122_n.jpg" width="238" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">The committee this year has come up with the theme of <i>Breaking World Records Together</i> giving the blender events all a theme, vision, and purpose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our event and goal for that day was to break the world record for the <b>world’s largest cakewalk</b>. We had ordered 15 cakes ahead of time, so there was no turning back on that order. I got texts all morning as it blizzard-ed (stick with me) outside. Regardless, I wasn’t going to let my good week end. Everything was going to be okay, and I knew it. I told everyone to carry on with plans and prepared for the day just as if there was nothing wrong. Sure enough, as soon as I was done getting ready and finished picking up the cakes, the skies cleared for the most part and the snow had melted and dried off the ground of the front of the JFSB quad! Although it wasn’t completely perfect, set-up went well, and the event began well. We were a little discouraged because we needed over 250 people and we only had about 50 to begin with. Once we got started and the excitement was in the air, people started piling in, and right before the last cake was about to be given away, we did it! We broke the world record! The event was successful and I feel like we were able to accomplish the blender goal's focus of reaching out to different students around campus.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me and Emily, my executive director.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/222558_10152200246700392_1388240655_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/222558_10152200246700392_1388240655_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dancing later on that night in our awesome black socks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">with two of my best friends that I grew up with -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Elina and Marinne!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All of the BYUSA kids excited to leave!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And finally, Friday was the start to a great weekend. I’ve been home all weekend, soaking up the warmth with my best friends and family. We came down with two huge buses on Friday to volunteer for the Romney campaign for free! It was so much fun to be with everyone and be able to work right by my home in Summerlin. I even learned how to drive a 16-seater-van! Parking was the worst part. I was able to see all the people I worked with this past summer at voter registration and even get some free stuff. Saturday night I was able to go out with my family to dinner at Claim Jumper and spent the rest of the night singing with Jason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now we’re on our way home on the bus (which is taking forever) and I'm ready to get back to Provo and buckle down for school.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Got to vote in Tagalog!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Driving the 16-seater!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">So what?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As I was starting the blog, I realized that the difficulty I had starting the blog was directly related to the difficulties I've been having all month. The pain of beginning and beginning again. This whole month has not been the most enjoyable month for me because I wasn't making the best decisions I could have been nor putting myself in the right situations I should have been in. I got so used to being lost in the clouds and letting my burdens build on my back. I had the mindset that somehow, someway, life would slow down or get easier, when in reality, all life every does is speed up. I was afraid to take a step forward. I was afraid to change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I told myself at the beginning of the week that I was going to forget everything that happened this month and just begin again. Begin again and begin as the best person I could be and see where I would end up a week later. From the moment I made that decision until now, life has been the best it has been in a really long time. And it's not because it slowed down. It's not because things got easier. It's because I took a step in the direction I needed to be going in the whole time. It's so easy to get caught in your problems lose hope. Everyday we go through things that put us up against the wall and force us back to the beginning. Yet the remarkable thing is, to those who give up giving up and learn to begin again after they fall, things always seem to fit back into place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-90634743277413296652012-10-21T23:10:00.001-06:002012-10-21T23:10:55.785-06:00A New World.<br />
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I feel like I start off every blog like this—I can’t even begin to explain how difficult life has been this week. I didn’t realize how carefree being a missionary was. It’s so much easier to help people deal with their problems than deal with your own.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This week started out rough. I lost a lot. Friends. Hopeful plans. People from my committee. Confidence. Peace.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On Monday, I hit my limit and fell hard. After spending the night at Jake’s and concluding that things couldn’t get much worse, Murphy’s Law took full swing and life got a bit trickier. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-S2PmkPSyker7abn4tL1gtt3JthU4CfwVdbYKfPQ18Uoit4cjfjTCfZ7KfRd4Z9PWPSLKbEPIP8qBgMOc-o5zc_PeQnio9HxtOE2YfYaymyRmnK7rOEA2NH1xUS8-9etDeRLGlyItpk/s1600/IMG_0400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-S2PmkPSyker7abn4tL1gtt3JthU4CfwVdbYKfPQ18Uoit4cjfjTCfZ7KfRd4Z9PWPSLKbEPIP8qBgMOc-o5zc_PeQnio9HxtOE2YfYaymyRmnK7rOEA2NH1xUS8-9etDeRLGlyItpk/s320/IMG_0400.JPG" width="320" /></a>I tried to do good.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I tried to make things right.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I tried to repair.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But tugs came from too many directions at once and I was at a point where I just couldn’t do it anymore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And then it was almost like hands came down from heaven and placed my friends around me to circle me and help me up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On Tuesday, right after I felt like I had messed up or lost anything I had going for me, I came home to two of the girls I home teach who had taken their time to stop by and drop off cookies they had made for Brigham and me. The first time any of the people I’ve home taught have ever gone out of their way to say thank you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Walking back down freshman hill to Helaman.</td></tr>
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On Wednesday, my three lovely girls in my committee took me and Matt out to dinner at the Cannon Center. It was the first time I had been back in Helaman. It was really hard to be back there after having so many memories there before, but it was a good thing for me to be with all of them and Matt. I hadn’t been that full in a really long time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On Thursday, Emily surprised me that night with fresh-baked cookies and a simple heart-felt card. The first heart-felt note I’ve received since I’ve been home from my mission. I also started dancing on Thursday with Marinne for the first time. Something I should have done years ago.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">My awesome socks I used to dance in the next morning.</td></tr>
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On Friday, Matt (from BYUSA), after seeing me walking alone back to my apartment, took me out for lunch at Café Rio. The first time I had been back to Café Rio since my little brother took me out the day I got home from my mission. I also had the privilege to attend the BYUSA Activities retreat that night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Preparing dinner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Abe's leadership workshop.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Some of the fun skits we made that night.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Dessert and games!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">BYUSA Activities Fall 2012</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpv10_pBeAEp9vjLsEi0QfhkSiRELm9ZuQEEyv8wSQReF-wX9VXR1GrLR_0KLeKSkqTIxF1cV44_32OHrNSiq0A7qplpyW6T-UBnuBCiX8e9l6zqDFVN4jQumTmDLNr9Beck5MkZwnek/s1600/IMG_7146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpv10_pBeAEp9vjLsEi0QfhkSiRELm9ZuQEEyv8wSQReF-wX9VXR1GrLR_0KLeKSkqTIxF1cV44_32OHrNSiq0A7qplpyW6T-UBnuBCiX8e9l6zqDFVN4jQumTmDLNr9Beck5MkZwnek/s320/IMG_7146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX1GtjOiVROAfn9UpqEKGOyEwYg_NqYTZQXQYaC9GAf2tTr551arC6ooZL7NlcCWHNIz-oDHrPbuQjxsVrAcCbddVZAc9s31UvcZAa6GnBjQgKU4RCzWWsg2hlIw-MdruMPL9LAZb8fY/s1600/IMG_7147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX1GtjOiVROAfn9UpqEKGOyEwYg_NqYTZQXQYaC9GAf2tTr551arC6ooZL7NlcCWHNIz-oDHrPbuQjxsVrAcCbddVZAc9s31UvcZAa6GnBjQgKU4RCzWWsg2hlIw-MdruMPL9LAZb8fY/s320/IMG_7147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6sjHG82-tsaUG_YRwDgpnszQRE7ziUsnH5xaLvo_oXUGKRqNw-SZqaMKYXuxZC1lqCjYEQhyphenhyphenoi3lC1zQCjMZyLExnuYXBkE4Pq_KR5_PyzjuhvcHiDNnFQiIDzM3SoJ7niXr_LZflH8/s1600/IMG_7148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6sjHG82-tsaUG_YRwDgpnszQRE7ziUsnH5xaLvo_oXUGKRqNw-SZqaMKYXuxZC1lqCjYEQhyphenhyphenoi3lC1zQCjMZyLExnuYXBkE4Pq_KR5_PyzjuhvcHiDNnFQiIDzM3SoJ7niXr_LZflH8/s320/IMG_7148.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Right outside BYU's Timp Lodge</td></tr>
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On Saturday, my Tagalog professor treated me to ice cream after helping her grade papers, and Mathew (a mission friend) took me out to dinner and helped me to remember, through his example, who I am and where I need to stand. Mathew is the first person I’ve met in my life that has had such similar trials to me and can legitimately say that he understands how I feel.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And today.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today hasn’t exactly been the easiest still feeling at loss and not being on good terms with people and situations that I should be on good terms with. Regardless, I’m a firm believer that every cloud has a silver lining.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc6/276517_275269432592577_1737576475_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc6/276517_275269432592577_1737576475_n.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have our very first Glee performance next week at <i>BYU Goes Broadway</i> and the song we are singing is called <i>A New World</i> from <i>Songs for a New World</i>. This song has grown to mean so much to me. It (as the musical story line goes) talks about the moments in life when everything seems like it’s going perfect and then disaster strikes and you find yourself a stranger in a place where you never expected to be. As the writer, <a href="http://mtishows.com/biography.asp?writerid=3341"><span style="color: #1650aa;">Jason Robert Brown</span></a><span style="color: #262626;"> says, "It's about one moment. It's about hitting the wall and having to make a choice, or take a stand, or turn around and go back."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.virginia.edu/drama/productionphotos/songs.archive.photos/web%20site/images/MBailey-080220-112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://www.virginia.edu/drama/productionphotos/songs.archive.photos/web%20site/images/MBailey-080220-112.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before I left Matt’s house last night, he helped me to realize that I should consider and live this song. And instead of just realistically <i>preparing for the worst and hoping for the best</i> as I said before, just embracing whatever the future holds and loving it. Taking the challenges head on and enduring through them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s more sensible, and I feel like it’s a healthier way of living. Matt was right (even though I didn’t want to admit it at the time). Life is too short to consistently just assume the worst is coming. I’m going to do my best now to just live each moment as best I can because I know where I stand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The week looks bright and promising. It most likely won't be what I expect it will be, but I'm okay with that. Come what may and begin again. Never give up.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-90741731119520588012012-10-14T16:12:00.001-06:002012-10-14T17:54:11.056-06:00You assume. You lose.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Writing a blog once week reminds me a lot of weekly emails home on the mission. Can't believe I've been home for almost three months now.</div>
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The weeks seem to keep getting more hectic. Homecoming this week made things really exciting and somewhat stressful. Regardless, it really made me love being here at BYU and appreciate its history.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsrIFQZSj3WxVmR3RUzX8JTv7JVBW4SZXqwGc-OKoFywLEbPFDxAQUmp9qWXEwMaYJGDKaSzLCma8Kgi3z7QgBrhlU7vLX8jjU317KMahfb6-hHfwxoJdwhjb8gTuMIQqpWStaJHYCtY/s1600/IMG_0357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsrIFQZSj3WxVmR3RUzX8JTv7JVBW4SZXqwGc-OKoFywLEbPFDxAQUmp9qWXEwMaYJGDKaSzLCma8Kgi3z7QgBrhlU7vLX8jjU317KMahfb6-hHfwxoJdwhjb8gTuMIQqpWStaJHYCtY/s320/IMG_0357.jpg" width="320" /></a>Started out the week with the homecoming opening ceremony which is one of my favorite assemblies every year. The theme for this year was <i>Of Pillars and Cornerstones</i>, a tribute to the past 100 years of BYU specifically centered around the Karl G. Maesar building (deemed to be the <i>cornerstone</i> of BYU's campus). Opening ceremonies was really fun and really different from my freshman year experience. It leaned away from the classical sense that they took on my freshman year (with performing groups such as the wind symphony, men's and women's chorus, etc.) and went more towards a broadway, musical theater feel--including groups such as Vocal Point, the Young Ambassadors, the Cougarettes, Synthesis, and BYU's Contemporary Dance Theater. This picture was probably my favorite--when BYU's national-champion-dance-team, <i>the Cougarettes</i>, took on <i>The Sing-off</i> participants, <i>Vocal Point</i> at "So you think you can sing, better than I can dance?"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9FnSl_Lb8ERuzfOWI0OKhwlZvAALTOnZGweSDttp070ZYt8xuTMX1je78Rwz-kVhjQZMhBGCW8fH-vX_sLGovTCJTf9zxotfzU_BWu96NmKMj1a-NhHEAinn57NPLVLTwwpUBWxm5Kc/s1600/IMG_0364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9FnSl_Lb8ERuzfOWI0OKhwlZvAALTOnZGweSDttp070ZYt8xuTMX1je78Rwz-kVhjQZMhBGCW8fH-vX_sLGovTCJTf9zxotfzU_BWu96NmKMj1a-NhHEAinn57NPLVLTwwpUBWxm5Kc/s320/IMG_0364.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting off the week with BYUSA's BBQ!</td></tr>
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The week after that was full of activities as well as preparing for the activity that my committee and I will be putting on next Thursday. It was a great reliever between the stress of school.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGQTqQTae5vomodYGbLfqbHNOvx0e1Wv0Cc-Ves1DUZ_c1LkbIxaatVUUkLEH6a0NDX-tmtIcL4gDcX9tOhE2VZJ-QMqfSkGDGLjYw3Ye8_pCh-TP1svSDl0XdJ_a8XEDMKg8NFSwwtE/s1600/IMG_0361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGQTqQTae5vomodYGbLfqbHNOvx0e1Wv0Cc-Ves1DUZ_c1LkbIxaatVUUkLEH6a0NDX-tmtIcL4gDcX9tOhE2VZJ-QMqfSkGDGLjYw3Ye8_pCh-TP1svSDl0XdJ_a8XEDMKg8NFSwwtE/s320/IMG_0361.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uT5kQFfRU9ApsX_QZ4MJoujVDREF9XNclX8w-3K0oOi_1HyYLfzNfOJItnV7bb76f9dSjDTLRJJfCXh3syAG6p2gs8JW3kIXwysB2QROd4Spvac56rRr4YgVGNTa9RbL4ks4aX6Xd6Y/s1600/IMG_0365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uT5kQFfRU9ApsX_QZ4MJoujVDREF9XNclX8w-3K0oOi_1HyYLfzNfOJItnV7bb76f9dSjDTLRJJfCXh3syAG6p2gs8JW3kIXwysB2QROd4Spvac56rRr4YgVGNTa9RbL4ks4aX6Xd6Y/s320/IMG_0365.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gave Austin a really hard time about the sunglasses haha.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0R4OHqkTDuUarChRdUx3zBT1PcbGXENYYGSLujUagyvtVQ3y2UEUbH5ce76XuRp8O9i4jUqkVZZmgpXLn9kUA71aDMQGdMgwM9SfIB3S5T6Tmd4IR4mfdVbzuM4msVoPZQ2r3spII6WA/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0R4OHqkTDuUarChRdUx3zBT1PcbGXENYYGSLujUagyvtVQ3y2UEUbH5ce76XuRp8O9i4jUqkVZZmgpXLn9kUA71aDMQGdMgwM9SfIB3S5T6Tmd4IR4mfdVbzuM4msVoPZQ2r3spII6WA/s320/IMG_0371.JPG" width="320" /></a>I also was taken back a little bit working at BYU's marching band competition, the <i>Rocky Mountain Invitational</i>. I got to host American Fork's marching band which is ranked to be one of the best marching bands in the nation. I'm not afraid to say that being a part of everything made me really miss high school marching band. Not necessarily for the band part, but the feel of being able to be a part of something and competing for it with your best friends. It was a bit nostalgic but at the same time extremely refreshing to see such talented high schoolers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeAc4ufyEj_wxlhu3-ssmRgsvi-kZs4I5bIThPFXOfODFMQRWpyLQqC__nvZfQ4t4cnRz38M2n4QcfLuyR1ulVoOnfUzfwHelPKrk0ZnngRtI-ddCBwJAbAakUkjMx_fJwWsWVpmJQG8/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeAc4ufyEj_wxlhu3-ssmRgsvi-kZs4I5bIThPFXOfODFMQRWpyLQqC__nvZfQ4t4cnRz38M2n4QcfLuyR1ulVoOnfUzfwHelPKrk0ZnngRtI-ddCBwJAbAakUkjMx_fJwWsWVpmJQG8/s320/IMG_0374.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltFqauvmTGQEGfjifKGn5GIGSPd3jUCycPMq6yg3rqdpGrcO8VgELOs-apKMoq5lvcVmTCNk-xfiN0WZ_rgegvkwnO3IltXd9FIUcVDfOqz_mRMcj1mWu6XruE0TyzIgtQQbO9eTvNNw/s1600/IMG_0367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltFqauvmTGQEGfjifKGn5GIGSPd3jUCycPMq6yg3rqdpGrcO8VgELOs-apKMoq5lvcVmTCNk-xfiN0WZ_rgegvkwnO3IltXd9FIUcVDfOqz_mRMcj1mWu6XruE0TyzIgtQQbO9eTvNNw/s320/IMG_0367.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See if you can spot me in the white!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJGwP_7Vof6-Zw4-bS245DChr7-LCZiOURzbDonVA3tJ5lhoninGTB8OR1POLGnsqeidDR3DJq7xgIZ5pjZPzEoxmHrLVZyUH2B3rKWSx2yxHOPqV88Ovrlu40JEDmwSd_h33p43cJb8/s1600/IMG_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJGwP_7Vof6-Zw4-bS245DChr7-LCZiOURzbDonVA3tJ5lhoninGTB8OR1POLGnsqeidDR3DJq7xgIZ5pjZPzEoxmHrLVZyUH2B3rKWSx2yxHOPqV88Ovrlu40JEDmwSd_h33p43cJb8/s320/IMG_0379.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnYv3W6eZjbzlTwvGTlI5bf3e9hueBz1dqVHt1ciD4RMq9YswSd8U9cKlLYwgXDZhVSpljMpFGf4VNJIkur0iKXEwIveKxKOxNsoIHXHyry2fjZAGv9lkzHAjcX_dJcoay5uqn0uDVwY/s1600/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnYv3W6eZjbzlTwvGTlI5bf3e9hueBz1dqVHt1ciD4RMq9YswSd8U9cKlLYwgXDZhVSpljMpFGf4VNJIkur0iKXEwIveKxKOxNsoIHXHyry2fjZAGv9lkzHAjcX_dJcoay5uqn0uDVwY/s320/IMG_0384.JPG" width="320" /></a>Wednesday we welcomed a brand new member to our <i>Blender Bunch--</i>Riley Cooney. Riley is a great friend of Jessica's and we are really excited to have him on board. He's already made great contributions and efforts to the event and it's been a blast having a new face in the committee. After our first meeting, Riley and I went to BYUSA's <i>True-Blue Football</i> event which is just a huge party with blue foam haha. There were huge slip-n-slides, dancing, and games. Everyone walked away blue and found out later on that night that, even after showering, for some strange reason we all still had blue armpits! It was extremely fun and worth it. It was great seeing everyone with a hinge of blue the next day in my swim class.</div>
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And finally the week ended with the BYU Spectacular, the dances, and the game. BYU Spectacular this year was amazing. BYU Spectacular (for non-BYUers), is a show that BYU puts on every homecoming in relation to whatever the theme is that year--mainly for visiting BYU alumni. The turnout is so huge that they have to set-up a huge stage in the Marriott center to fit everyone. This year, keeping the idea of celebrating the past hundred years of BYU, the show was a musical theater type of documentary/walk-through of how BYU came to be how great it is today.</div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/525622_4746058813247_1494345367_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/525622_4746058813247_1494345367_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>My date and I (after not getting to finish our food at dinner because of such slow service) had extremely good seats and were really lucky. I had the most adorable elderly lady sit next to me the whole time in tears as she remembered her days at BYU. While we were going through the 50's, 60's, and 70's, she would tell me short stories about how she remembered when the song they were performing came out and how she and her husband would dance to that song and--well just stuff like that. Collette and I really enjoyed it and I especially loved watching Jake, one of my former mission companions, perform in it in Vocal Point as well as my good friend Ben in Synthesis and Logan in Contemporary Dance.</div>
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On Friday, I took Collette and her friend to the casual dance on campus after Glee rehearsal which was, well, alright haha. I felt a bit out of place with my other friends since it just seemed like it was mostly freshmen. We made it fun though. And then finally the blue pancake breakfast, the parade, and the game we barely lost all ended the homecoming experience for this year.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span></b></div>
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I feel like this week, I've gotten slapped in the face more times than I ever have my whole life. In between the small spurts of fun that homecoming brought, this week has been extremely difficult. I've been struggling a lot getting back in the swing of school and had my share of drama with friends. Those thing are expected though. If it wasn't for rough times, life would be way too boring and easy. What's been difficult is this consistent pattern that has continued to bite me in the back this whole week: assuming and assuming poorly. Here are just three short examples:</div>
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On Thursday I felt really proud of myself because for the first time I felt like I was completely on top of school. Then, I walked into my MCOM class and realized that I had missed a step in the assignment we were supposed to complete that day. I had assumed I knew exactly how to complete the assignment without double-checking the directions. Loss.</div>
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On Friday I was really happy because I had gotten up early to make cookies for a friend in BYU Spectacular that was evidently extremely exhausted from rehearsals that week and an anatomy midterm. When I didn't know what to wrap it in, I thought they'd appreciate the thought and creativity behind cutting out a nature valley box, wrapping it in newspaper, placing the napkin-wrapped cookies inside, and then wrapping everything in newspaper, completed with a ribbon from an unused garbage bag. I would have appreciated something like that, but apparently, not everyone else does. Not even a thank you. An effort to make someone happy wasted. I assumed I would at the least get a thank you and that they would appreciate it. Loss.</div>
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On Saturday I took my grammar test that I felt extremely prepared for. I felt like I knew grammar really well and was really familiar with the textbook. I walked in, took the test, and felt like I got an A on it. However, the score on the screen didn't exactly match what I felt. I assumed that I knew the material well enough to get that grade. Loss.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3okIdxnE_0nFWEDKc7jgl16NDMHw54UJBo1eNRbHMkl0-2u6JMfkwVYTWnnHrvRlFz-a96an7TGbIxjzfr9qLe9D4Rljpbt8GuNw9cBAp5n_YGE0yfXfL5pi1UDwWMv46ffgrYOi-sM/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3okIdxnE_0nFWEDKc7jgl16NDMHw54UJBo1eNRbHMkl0-2u6JMfkwVYTWnnHrvRlFz-a96an7TGbIxjzfr9qLe9D4Rljpbt8GuNw9cBAp5n_YGE0yfXfL5pi1UDwWMv46ffgrYOi-sM/s320/IMG_0387.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Now what?</b></span><br />
Life is just so unpredictable and unfair. I heard someone at church say this morning that life is about the things that happen while you're planning it out--and it's true. Things most often never go the way you <i>assume</i> they were and will go. So my conclusion is two-fold:<br />
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1) Check and double-check<br />
2) Still prepare for the worst<br />
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For school assignments. For work assignments. For church assignments. For life assignments. I've concluded these two things will, for the most part, save heartache. Never assume you know what something is. Never assume you know what someone is thinking. Never assume you know what is best. Ask for clarification and ask again. And then even when you feel like you understand, prepare for the worst news and hope for the best.Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-89633711769989820632012-10-07T21:56:00.001-06:002012-10-08T11:47:51.930-06:00Roots before branches.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was one of those weeks that felt like it was never going to end. Tuesday felt like it should have been Friday and when Friday finally came, it didn't last long enough. I find it completely comical that life drags when you want it to the least but seems to take off in the moments that you wish would never end.</div>
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There was actually a lot that happened this week! Monday I was able to make dinner and catch up with Erika which was great. Erika and I have been trying to get together for weeks now, but our busy schedules just never seemed to line up. It was nice to take a breather for that night and just enjoy each other's company in the middle of midterms. </div>
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Tuesday I had my first midterm which went pretty okay, and Emily was a sweetheart enough to make me dinner that night which was really nice. Emily has done a great job as a leader in BYUSA and has done her best to take care of me. I really don't know where I would be if I didn't join BYUSA this semester. I wouldn't have friends, thats for sure, and I probably wouldn't have a life either!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdsfmFqqSCwPflwJws4pH2Oi_9_BXEmVRnASfpHO-rwm_zt_tfw96VV7-LqIXaQMjbpHbDGUZdR27JEOrLyNJhmsbWnLtSUGfCuQqbLjpL7BUCmBdFEMlS8vuBnwFntnITiv-Sfrq56o/s1600/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.04+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdsfmFqqSCwPflwJws4pH2Oi_9_BXEmVRnASfpHO-rwm_zt_tfw96VV7-LqIXaQMjbpHbDGUZdR27JEOrLyNJhmsbWnLtSUGfCuQqbLjpL7BUCmBdFEMlS8vuBnwFntnITiv-Sfrq56o/s320/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.04+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a>These are pictures from my committee meeting on Wednesday. Our events are coming up pretty quick, so things are starting to raise high in the committee. Regardless,I feel that as things get more heavy, we bind closer together. They have been some of my best friends this semester and I love them to death.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuCPO8LHVjGzZHf-aBXeAv5p0v3IBUFUr0DJyIvDh6SPuVBSUE-_3QA5UIksRFOaEGnyaF4kBglzH73v4GdMbmYY2zZS8iI43KYsRO0ua6tZGFEhq7J3MM6re1Go7jafNNtVm6hPbIUc/s1600/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.05+PM+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuCPO8LHVjGzZHf-aBXeAv5p0v3IBUFUr0DJyIvDh6SPuVBSUE-_3QA5UIksRFOaEGnyaF4kBglzH73v4GdMbmYY2zZS8iI43KYsRO0ua6tZGFEhq7J3MM6re1Go7jafNNtVm6hPbIUc/s320/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.05+PM+%232.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blender Babes and Babe-ettes!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzIgbc9XW9kxylAbYHBdjYSRI1U7e7pVYWUAeiW0PF6wu2mNH1g2GH0JvFQ_4x3jvf0qsbWfIxJV8ncPFTXho1HfhFg6kgrajaT8z9ySKc6dMWqqJ0uU9pzYcsxs7pIKmSwGxeSxy-EE/s1600/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.05+PM+%233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzIgbc9XW9kxylAbYHBdjYSRI1U7e7pVYWUAeiW0PF6wu2mNH1g2GH0JvFQ_4x3jvf0qsbWfIxJV8ncPFTXho1HfhFg6kgrajaT8z9ySKc6dMWqqJ0uU9pzYcsxs7pIKmSwGxeSxy-EE/s320/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.05+PM+%233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips11rQ8f9OZqlEkVBHMANfLqvjyfR4oRL6xvHaeGjYDKjql2Yu27HPZ-ZfTUcsZgOE7kq5TtjyHIy-b8xWQcGcZW9tSgcMelAmIN7Z3E6Xy0Ea1iJNm5CbpJkFrtGvdtcizchyphenhyphenHS5ZP0/s1600/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.05+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips11rQ8f9OZqlEkVBHMANfLqvjyfR4oRL6xvHaeGjYDKjql2Yu27HPZ-ZfTUcsZgOE7kq5TtjyHIy-b8xWQcGcZW9tSgcMelAmIN7Z3E6Xy0Ea1iJNm5CbpJkFrtGvdtcizchyphenhyphenHS5ZP0/s320/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.05+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was supposed to be our ugly face picture haha.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobH4T4AeXxXwBXn65Ydtj3r0df3LxH5HlhyphenhyphentZkXbHSwEHW7_bWkld9fbx2sv6MYJrBOkU-2ShH7bxMAYAY14qI6TPjxHFbQMgZK48jnPzdCYsjhMaKr0HSVsqUOK5Ar-JHkH0Gb4XGDg/s1600/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.06+PM+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobH4T4AeXxXwBXn65Ydtj3r0df3LxH5HlhyphenhyphentZkXbHSwEHW7_bWkld9fbx2sv6MYJrBOkU-2ShH7bxMAYAY14qI6TPjxHFbQMgZK48jnPzdCYsjhMaKr0HSVsqUOK5Ar-JHkH0Gb4XGDg/s320/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.06+PM+%232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rby_SF2QRCnVmUTQWLwUAPIb9lSHioNGYRugckk8dteELmnz94XeEtaScbZf8WkqnQXmcsNLYIpd5PvPatNfzFyZtvZrh7-bjTT1IPLuJeWV6FQVZfIkBd2D3mRHvcE_4xZpCAP9R6I/s1600/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.06+PM+%233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rby_SF2QRCnVmUTQWLwUAPIb9lSHioNGYRugckk8dteELmnz94XeEtaScbZf8WkqnQXmcsNLYIpd5PvPatNfzFyZtvZrh7-bjTT1IPLuJeWV6FQVZfIkBd2D3mRHvcE_4xZpCAP9R6I/s320/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.06+PM+%233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FYCU3XyzXEuL7wz_wcXPQG_wtJlWti-ABscN53u1pXG4DAjR-RG6sQKepmskzZXFMSDBUHUdI0FBnZD74NBaoZhLNyRgCLd3IuQVgUv8m5li7jJwxJfo1BWUdNd9eD-ENyL28OTpdw8/s1600/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.06+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FYCU3XyzXEuL7wz_wcXPQG_wtJlWti-ABscN53u1pXG4DAjR-RG6sQKepmskzZXFMSDBUHUdI0FBnZD74NBaoZhLNyRgCLd3IuQVgUv8m5li7jJwxJfo1BWUdNd9eD-ENyL28OTpdw8/s320/Photo+on+10-1-12+at+4.06+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBm4khr7bbYpwyybdjUeu8rBdpLjyr_y5zVmN-fsg3cCVIOskfrpBzEyPFFGi1vcaiLKDzPSmADAlj343dY7_t-44cgBP5O6kij1xVpog2kCIlcBd0tEhys-CvQb-KyYMWLrRD8puOuY/s1600/IMG_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBm4khr7bbYpwyybdjUeu8rBdpLjyr_y5zVmN-fsg3cCVIOskfrpBzEyPFFGi1vcaiLKDzPSmADAlj343dY7_t-44cgBP5O6kij1xVpog2kCIlcBd0tEhys-CvQb-KyYMWLrRD8puOuY/s200/IMG_0306.JPG" width="200" /></a>Wednesday was also Erika's birthday and I was lucky enough to get invited by one of her friends to her surprise birthday to watch the debate. I thought Mitt Romney did extremely well and I was very proud with the outcome. I didn't get to stay for long, but I felt pretty lucky to be able to celebrate with Erika and her sister's friends. It's pretty rare that I get invited to much of anything anymore so any social activity is a blessing in my life.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g0CR2FCF3PDaRtslMmHZq5-8i0DkODi7LPfok9FJCqzHdimpCPn8Q5QT4SH7oMuf7y3AXrmpX5Rxe6QcXo9px1GpNO9UPJORWj0HF_vXWVa77z8lIlCUCw8h9dAhqmSZnKHdiRKmywQ/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g0CR2FCF3PDaRtslMmHZq5-8i0DkODi7LPfok9FJCqzHdimpCPn8Q5QT4SH7oMuf7y3AXrmpX5Rxe6QcXo9px1GpNO9UPJORWj0HF_vXWVa77z8lIlCUCw8h9dAhqmSZnKHdiRKmywQ/s320/IMG_0308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwYZK9IaBt2oPgAubfVq6KBxhjY1HzIPkFywHkbx6To0U57T94a1jGhMIL44Nb1yYaR7A9Mh1-qQqBzRPH9wAqMzxnLCJJ6lLy_fgneBS7ZGAifz16OffMzYn6EXmeAeD9Dk3r0FizgY/s1600/IMG_0310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwYZK9IaBt2oPgAubfVq6KBxhjY1HzIPkFywHkbx6To0U57T94a1jGhMIL44Nb1yYaR7A9Mh1-qQqBzRPH9wAqMzxnLCJJ6lLy_fgneBS7ZGAifz16OffMzYn6EXmeAeD9Dk3r0FizgY/s320/IMG_0310.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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That night I also got to be a part of the Beijing Dance Academy event that took place on campus that night. The Beijing Dance Academy came (coincidentally) from Beijing and danced with BYU's Philharmonic Orchestra. They were unbelievable. Afterwards, I got to be a part of the small after-party shindig where BYU's premiere jazz ensemble, <i>Synthesis</i>, performed with one of BYU's premiere dance groups, <i>BYU Contemporary Dance Theatre,</i> for the Beijing Dance Academy. I was extremely impressed by the number they did to the jazz standard <i>Sing, Sing, Sing</i> (which you probably know as the <i>Chip's Ahoy! </i>song) and even got to meet some of members. One in particular has become a very good friend of mine just from that night!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news.byu.edu/releases/archive11/May/chinadance/1105-21%201790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://news.byu.edu/releases/archive11/May/chinadance/1105-21%201790.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click <a href="http://news.byu.edu/archive11-may-chinadance.aspx">here</a> to read more about it.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYSl0Gp-4uAvvDt-_zXb5PQOB-gv0lv6iVHY6G9zBiHKhSzdIJWj8Mc9VuKIxAj0DEeG1bJRg7WEMzAYVUQ4HPyPgxOdLHW2whTIAGjP4UKqT0DtRO4v51OVECZ147qH82bDI2Jur4Ok/s1600/IMG_0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYSl0Gp-4uAvvDt-_zXb5PQOB-gv0lv6iVHY6G9zBiHKhSzdIJWj8Mc9VuKIxAj0DEeG1bJRg7WEMzAYVUQ4HPyPgxOdLHW2whTIAGjP4UKqT0DtRO4v51OVECZ147qH82bDI2Jur4Ok/s320/IMG_0320.JPG" width="320" /></a>Thursday I studied my brains out and the new world wonder (aka Psy's Gangnam Style) stormed even into my business class.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVYSll8QzEqfqEtwkttbuybbJumG7s5QQm08acV__hWfKaNAKYEqfnLNMF0P9dmJl4J7zzyMDt9h4lRj8HxA_l2kNtWd5DrtH_plGoYok2Z1uidfuBPSat5sji0NVU45Y_hmJaImJ09M/s1600/IMG_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVYSll8QzEqfqEtwkttbuybbJumG7s5QQm08acV__hWfKaNAKYEqfnLNMF0P9dmJl4J7zzyMDt9h4lRj8HxA_l2kNtWd5DrtH_plGoYok2Z1uidfuBPSat5sji0NVU45Y_hmJaImJ09M/s320/IMG_0312.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Travis studying under Abe's desk in the office.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2scq8Z2G-7XFAMIO5qn-X6cZal1YI3JOeVV5RRgjo3WZG1zo9I5gE45W5J1DoflUToazbDiwpCgFnJD4eS1Yyb-ZW_PSsEBhE6X7ujsRSDIO2NXgZeR6YSbAeCKAhZk1JtGJZg-TJmqA/s1600/IMG_0313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2scq8Z2G-7XFAMIO5qn-X6cZal1YI3JOeVV5RRgjo3WZG1zo9I5gE45W5J1DoflUToazbDiwpCgFnJD4eS1Yyb-ZW_PSsEBhE6X7ujsRSDIO2NXgZeR6YSbAeCKAhZk1JtGJZg-TJmqA/s320/IMG_0313.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily joining him haha.</td></tr>
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And then Friday finally came and I spent the night on a date with my new, amazing dancer-friend who makes me smile too much. The date was a fail for the most part haha. I had planned to take us up to the canyon and ride the ski lifts but that apparently only happens every full moon. It was also way to cold outside to go star gazing, but fortunately, everything somehow turned out well... somehow haha.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnf-oGByiw51jjFw-vC16sPP7_HwwbX-pCAvqlFRREKDYw-W928a3IdVfoSRddzgdtlSBRF6hk1K7f6cjAzdEjqm_otPCpbwSDBLuLMzNVIBFuqhfp9InfO-pxzrLlVVG8tsE0SGC9zFI/s1600/IMG_0323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnf-oGByiw51jjFw-vC16sPP7_HwwbX-pCAvqlFRREKDYw-W928a3IdVfoSRddzgdtlSBRF6hk1K7f6cjAzdEjqm_otPCpbwSDBLuLMzNVIBFuqhfp9InfO-pxzrLlVVG8tsE0SGC9zFI/s320/IMG_0323.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This rest of the weekend was spent soaking up conference. I was really happy to be able to actually get to spend time with more friends from BYUSA this morning for conference. Emily made as all killer cinnamon-roll-waffles along with suicide syrup. They were decadent to say the least. It was also really nice to see everyone outside of their BYUSA game faces, even if I didn't really feel like I fit in spending time with them this morning. It was a great experience though and nice to actually be able to see people this weekend.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLmbUeXNfvyYVZ8ZXaEyXEoyVDl7pndu4JfXLgqRyPepFUqRkDfy-1qsMVguxIr6MbXzwYKCga40CTfT4l6bsw4F-xIse2l7goTFOxcPDmM_5YgizLmmao2uqN6UklEUg9gTa027d2z8/s1600/IMG_0325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLmbUeXNfvyYVZ8ZXaEyXEoyVDl7pndu4JfXLgqRyPepFUqRkDfy-1qsMVguxIr6MbXzwYKCga40CTfT4l6bsw4F-xIse2l7goTFOxcPDmM_5YgizLmmao2uqN6UklEUg9gTa027d2z8/s320/IMG_0325.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily's cinnawaffles!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The suicide syrup.</td></tr>
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And now the lessons behind the madness.</div>
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This whole semester I've been asked a possible 23740592834750293845723049587 times what I'm majoring in and what I plan to do with my life, and although I kind of already know what I want to do, it's been up in the air--<i>for the most part</i>--and has been quite embarrassing to look at people and tell them that I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.</div>
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I grew up with the idea that I was going to become a doctor but coming back from my mission gave me a lot of perspective. I saw my brother doing what he loved and succeeding as well as many others. I became tired of watching everyone else's dreams come true except mine. </div>
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Who was I kidding? I <b>hated</b> all of my science classes freshman year. How on earth am I supposed to become a doctor if I don't like science?</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">So what?</span></b></div>
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Coming back to BYU has been back to the drawing board for me. I've spent the last month or so just searching. Figuring out what is good for me. Finding out what I love. Talking to people. Getting opinions. Getting ideas. Figuring out life. And finally, after about a month of searching, I feel happy and pretty settled with the direction I'm going in.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now what?</span></b></div>
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The problem with most dreamers is that that is all they do. They dream and they wish and nothing ever happens.</div>
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A song that has really impressed my life this week talks about how you have to have roots before you have branches. You have to know where you stand and who you are to know who you want to be. It didn't take me long to realize that<i> </i><b>I do know</b> who I am and <b>I do know</b> who I want to be. I have an amazing foundation of talents with a work ethic that my parents have given me and there's not much more I need to do now but run.</div>
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This may come as a shock to a lot of people but I'm forgetting about what anyone has told me and I'm going to start chasing my dreams like I should have done years ago.</div>
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I realized on the mission how much I love to sing and how much I've<b> always</b> loved to sing. So<b> I'm going to sing</b>. I've let go of the idea that it's <i>too late</i> to start and that <i>I won't get anywhere singing</i> and I'm going to just practice hard and see where it takes me. I love singing so much and I can't see myself in the future not singing. I'm proud to announce that I will be minoring in music, not on clarinet, but in contemporary vocal performance.</div>
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And this past week, I've realized how much I've always wanted to dance and how I have loved dancing my whole life. I love dancing because you can express yourself without words in a way that anyone can understand. I'm forgetting about all the people who told me that dancing was a girl thing to do and <b>I'm going to dance</b>. I'm going to work, I'm going to practice hard, and I'm going to see where it takes me. I'm proud to announce that I will be taking the prerequisite for the contemporary dance minor this winter and applying for the contemporary dance minor the following semester.</div>
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And now the big one.</div>
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I realize that sometimes somethings just aren't meant to be and you always have to have a backup plan, not to plan on falling back on, but to prepare for what life has to bring you. So after talking to professors, advisement counselors, alumni, and students in various programs, I've decided that I will on top of everything else, be applying for the accounting program at the Marriott School of Business. The accounting program here at BYU is known for being among the top in the states so you know what that means--it's <b>not</b> going to be easy. It's going to be hard. Really hard. But I'm going to take my time and make it through because nothing of extreme difficulty has stopped me in the past and it's not going to stop me now.</div>
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I told my family last night and it feels good to have direction in my life now. I haven't completely canned medical school if you were wondering. There's a possibility that I won't enjoy accounting and the beauty is, is my education doesn't end at the end of my stay here at BYU. I will still have the option of going to medical school or any other graduate school after that. My life won't end right after I graduate here from BYU.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeROe3fj0C-5aLIvyFNV1mxio7SlmomQi3d6eRBM7Xvzz8PVLBSaPk2fJ9OvRgFzLw5gCIsK0qhNuGRN4KYuQnuGJNrC9L4uxAKuLI1XPkZhyphenhyphenW6GHPvJgcvJTIuYs9Z_1m7rpKgzXaZE/s1600/IMG_0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeROe3fj0C-5aLIvyFNV1mxio7SlmomQi3d6eRBM7Xvzz8PVLBSaPk2fJ9OvRgFzLw5gCIsK0qhNuGRN4KYuQnuGJNrC9L4uxAKuLI1XPkZhyphenhyphenW6GHPvJgcvJTIuYs9Z_1m7rpKgzXaZE/s320/IMG_0355.JPG" width="320" /></a>I'm excited for the next years that are to come here and I'm ready to work. I'm planning on big things and won't settle for less. I'll be auditioning for groups, running for positions, and putting myself out there for the world to see. It's not going to be easy but nothing that is easy is ever worth it anyway.</div>
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Now I'm just ready to keep going. I know where I stand now. It will just take a little faith to take chances and risks and I know that somehow, someway, as long as I'm actively pursuing, things will work out and I'll be where I need to be. So to life and all the struggles ahead, look out--because I'm not stopping anytime soon.</div>
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<br />Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-28422960087624225902012-09-30T23:40:00.000-06:002012-10-01T00:32:00.056-06:00Life: It's a process.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3RT-UpqzIoQz64D3V7hBRQ0OrinxNmoAnJ3SK-3zCdhbwNaahso4Vn4YvR1_IfNY-972sP9T0UimcPocyvhwfqMoYGy3MSfsalZNRW_V9TcmWLQ6kfxwv_hra6PgZz7ZImVOlpEP5Dw/s1600/IMG_2351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3RT-UpqzIoQz64D3V7hBRQ0OrinxNmoAnJ3SK-3zCdhbwNaahso4Vn4YvR1_IfNY-972sP9T0UimcPocyvhwfqMoYGy3MSfsalZNRW_V9TcmWLQ6kfxwv_hra6PgZz7ZImVOlpEP5Dw/s200/IMG_2351.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: left;">I feel like I just sat down to write my weekly blog yesterday and now it's already Sunday again! Time just keeps going by faster and faster and doesn't seem like it's slowing down anytime soon (except for when I'm sitting in class haha). This is going to be a fairly long blog with lots of pictures, so buckle up sweetheart, because I'm about to take you back two months and catch you up with the rest of my life!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVG9ESnGoptHiiByBb2b2t4IitmAEOH3gOKhQcdNwyLs6xzFinC4AjdJg4zBwDJQzim6uW6xb26SYptYxyi1hV0jX940xRJlKO48821sUTp898BArX9V4CN_xf19yezVFpYivOSCqQYw/s1600/Image+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVG9ESnGoptHiiByBb2b2t4IitmAEOH3gOKhQcdNwyLs6xzFinC4AjdJg4zBwDJQzim6uW6xb26SYptYxyi1hV0jX940xRJlKO48821sUTp898BArX9V4CN_xf19yezVFpYivOSCqQYw/s320/Image+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My last picture with my name tag.</td></tr>
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After our extended vacation after my mission (for more on that visit this website--<a href="http://www.ericsonamission.blogspot.com/">www.ericsonamission.blogspot.com</a>), life slowed down a little bit. My first day back in Vegas was kind of weird. I wasn't able to get released until that night, so I ran around town with my parents getting things set up for school immediately, buying the necessities--laptop, phone, etc. and figuring out what else I needed for the upcoming school year. When we got home, I wanted to make the best out of the last moments of my mission, so I called up the missionaries and went with them to their appointments all the way up until I was released that night at 8pm.<br />
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Being released was a really emotional experience, and I'm so glad that my family and Sister Squires were able to be there. I tried my best not to cry but that was inevitable. We talked about my mission a lot (obviously) and then President Parker released me, asking my mom to take off my name tags. That moment was the most bittersweet moment of my life. I was extremely sad to leave my mission behind but, at the same time, was so thankful to be with the people I loved most. I was in nothing but tears as my mom took of my name tags, but then was immediately comforted as she and dad embraced me and expressed how proud they were of me. I'm so lucky to have the supportive parents that I have--they are truly irreplaceable.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/293182_10151905916765392_1672847022_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/293182_10151905916765392_1672847022_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeing Farah for the first time at the airport.</td></tr>
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And then my life took off. I spent the next few days catching up with as many people as I could. That weekend I gave my homecoming talk, and I was so blessed to have my best friend Mat drive down with<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>his now fiancé, Libby, just to come see me and come to my homecoming. I also was blessed to have one of my absolute favorite companions, my follow up trainer Jake, drive down the night to come as well. In attendance also was my whole family, my trainer Hayden and his now wife, Margie, and lots, and lots of friends! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mat and I reunited after three years.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5X13JJCTEX2wjjZFl4uJA7cSPceU36nEAzKRx8R594k5SoSUOp8uu7MWDYI9sBDdcnWsxh3iYfNqec3TEgOqxNPa2Z1hNE1jlqBIiSC1TdGGSx3NX6bXIlInhWPhzyg9kQanb3mVrHY/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5X13JJCTEX2wjjZFl4uJA7cSPceU36nEAzKRx8R594k5SoSUOp8uu7MWDYI9sBDdcnWsxh3iYfNqec3TEgOqxNPa2Z1hNE1jlqBIiSC1TdGGSx3NX6bXIlInhWPhzyg9kQanb3mVrHY/s200/IMG_0003.jpg" width="200" /></a>Afterwards we spent the night enjoying company, although I was still a little depressed and missing my mission. It was just good to be back and with everyone. The next morning I drove back up with Jake and his wife to Provo to apply at the MTC and spent the week in Provo which was absolutely amazing. I stayed with Mat and got to spend some time with some old friends and mission buddies in Provo that week. My interview and presentation went really well, and now I'm just waiting for a slot to open in the MTC! I flew back that Thursday just in time to see my whole mom's side of the family that was driving in that night to come spend the weekend with me!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhevWjAGn4iqwM1pznxnXgOj6AEUuVOT_Zni8Vfb4R7Qe3xRTBD5TPfbVhCpQSsT9iabs_Bu2nr44rZQa6VkK6uUlbbfvjH-F2gEA4vrjLn_cr3vHr-5auP6KNQ21Vr32i4q7WvlnqOwc/s1600/IMG_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhevWjAGn4iqwM1pznxnXgOj6AEUuVOT_Zni8Vfb4R7Qe3xRTBD5TPfbVhCpQSsT9iabs_Bu2nr44rZQa6VkK6uUlbbfvjH-F2gEA4vrjLn_cr3vHr-5auP6KNQ21Vr32i4q7WvlnqOwc/s320/IMG_0008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was so amazing to be able to see and spend time with family over the summer. Seeing my grandma and other relatives and being able to speak Tagalog to them is so great. I feel like it's the first time my whole life that I've been able to speak and have real conversations with my grandparents and not have to worry if they're understanding my English. The mission has been a blessing in so many ways.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSMu74kr_f4R6TPGrnYXtmfauiqJKrUxMPeW8oCo6SlJBYN3zNs7iIuHrLjNq8FPsEDl4M9yzpxV5GU_gqMIhfnYgyk2pbvcVht7KAqlxrGd2IWc5ezgjvpxD890VGUUKICgWQGSAViM/s1600/DSC_2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSMu74kr_f4R6TPGrnYXtmfauiqJKrUxMPeW8oCo6SlJBYN3zNs7iIuHrLjNq8FPsEDl4M9yzpxV5GU_gqMIhfnYgyk2pbvcVht7KAqlxrGd2IWc5ezgjvpxD890VGUUKICgWQGSAViM/s400/DSC_2472.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPLe7cCcO-vzmVRTWy7RiOy0UE9aBH7-UOvHOaDw2RoliT3dQkcDihasM-7q64DxWiv1irZVkxwMpHi0FD8eFvHNPfjR7zh5wPu0LMc-MybL4nrAvkGn8JtI0SaZuTDAD9e5CCbOj8lg/s1600/DSC_2618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPLe7cCcO-vzmVRTWy7RiOy0UE9aBH7-UOvHOaDw2RoliT3dQkcDihasM-7q64DxWiv1irZVkxwMpHi0FD8eFvHNPfjR7zh5wPu0LMc-MybL4nrAvkGn8JtI0SaZuTDAD9e5CCbOj8lg/s320/DSC_2618.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing <i>Families Can Be Together Forever</i> with my family after my report to the high council.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinERiX-qKu95-ysDERv5WiuEpJvKi-AzCA5hMAAagTE8hdHo5zdLGGuUkf8j6gUyoESE3s_Hv06RSGEwG-ioJ-m8MzZBS0J7TXszKNdAJ69KMYpMw_BC9qVF512Teo7dAjvNhdhoxJn9U/s1600/IMG_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinERiX-qKu95-ysDERv5WiuEpJvKi-AzCA5hMAAagTE8hdHo5zdLGGuUkf8j6gUyoESE3s_Hv06RSGEwG-ioJ-m8MzZBS0J7TXszKNdAJ69KMYpMw_BC9qVF512Teo7dAjvNhdhoxJn9U/s320/IMG_0015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love my grandmas!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new baby cousin Khloe. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uOQYcV2QNZ6U_iRMD2lAZ6e9mvTrZRP53eqzOg5DwKkNHyEJcCReqFL-CUQaZkZbvoGer4OBqULqMW1p2g6hkuiwZrd9QYM1ImJNZGL9Vtzw5xhcY5roy1DxnaRNhM4l3SwN5Pb3zk8/s1600/IMG_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uOQYcV2QNZ6U_iRMD2lAZ6e9mvTrZRP53eqzOg5DwKkNHyEJcCReqFL-CUQaZkZbvoGer4OBqULqMW1p2g6hkuiwZrd9QYM1ImJNZGL9Vtzw5xhcY5roy1DxnaRNhM4l3SwN5Pb3zk8/s320/IMG_0017.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins all reunited!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeffWewhOvJVZz6SnFj_2tdP9yR0tBzAAGjy95j47WLuZ14EPwGYWo9Sm_r5Ek3DVZ4ITSwBbHS3ztp6MBYBmb3tcMg7a6-6h3aygZ-4bYo6D9y_SooSpFO_X1kueNCOV0sH6-CwVmXs/s1600/IMG_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeffWewhOvJVZz6SnFj_2tdP9yR0tBzAAGjy95j47WLuZ14EPwGYWo9Sm_r5Ek3DVZ4ITSwBbHS3ztp6MBYBmb3tcMg7a6-6h3aygZ-4bYo6D9y_SooSpFO_X1kueNCOV0sH6-CwVmXs/s320/IMG_0020.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVUtW024mgNl7xf7weiYEIr47DN_tKeahhUeBy4v5f003s56bQ5XZ8KYNqMJbZ0uP70HG8jnHpvXR9nCTMGCmitEwoHNjyqwS_7r_Ft3S3EXiNpMBuCAYe9SrxrP1RrmX4vfeqoMLD6w/s1600/IMG_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVUtW024mgNl7xf7weiYEIr47DN_tKeahhUeBy4v5f003s56bQ5XZ8KYNqMJbZ0uP70HG8jnHpvXR9nCTMGCmitEwoHNjyqwS_7r_Ft3S3EXiNpMBuCAYe9SrxrP1RrmX4vfeqoMLD6w/s320/IMG_0021.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of new matching Filipino phone cases for our iPhones!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0mmcaFPbXiVjuGpoDH8InbF-85hMze1eRuaDqp_iBufBMIh9c4UvJbSUe4O2HUVi13IISSTAjcF7a3vmOqn7UrWUppQvFzGXYHOGrnrQQTYuBVzfkiOrAjk1W-_b9CAaLIZkBOvSVF8/s1600/DSC_2691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0mmcaFPbXiVjuGpoDH8InbF-85hMze1eRuaDqp_iBufBMIh9c4UvJbSUe4O2HUVi13IISSTAjcF7a3vmOqn7UrWUppQvFzGXYHOGrnrQQTYuBVzfkiOrAjk1W-_b9CAaLIZkBOvSVF8/s320/DSC_2691.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corpuz.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMh9fNZZvFwFHopc_opj9pneQgkdM1DETbAsviHAr1KAdRj-hZagC8sngAV9ZFqoJUDhd5HqQNvKNElyCqO0xSdbRfSD2DRQkLghLFRzT5pHYwrzzP4NsWrktRuHUgc27qKC8B7S9JAEw/s1600/DSC_2699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMh9fNZZvFwFHopc_opj9pneQgkdM1DETbAsviHAr1KAdRj-hZagC8sngAV9ZFqoJUDhd5HqQNvKNElyCqO0xSdbRfSD2DRQkLghLFRzT5pHYwrzzP4NsWrktRuHUgc27qKC8B7S9JAEw/s320/DSC_2699.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>This summer I also started working as a field representative for voter registration for the Romney & Ryan campaign. It was such a new experience for me to get involved in politics, but I absolutely loved it. One of my very best friends, Kelsey (who's dad is running for senate in Nevada) was able to help me get this job which really changed my life and my perspective on many things. I was able to get to know great people in great places and see a whole side of politics that I never thought I would see. The Romney Campaign even offered me a paid internship that I had to turn down because of school, but I was really honored to be able to know they considered having me on their team. I also saw even more blessings from my mission as speaking Tagalog gave me a really strong advantage with that job and was able to reach out in a completely different way that no one else could. I'm still in touch with the Romney campaign and will be going down a few weekends before November 6 to continue to help out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg421ITPZsPesUOI2hXgVG1WF14_fAj2TF57tS5xWllMsBfm3NGidRFaffVS-o8fWNCL26ZL_fdzjjTTqc39dbQ_RI2vLQVKGQjN8u0rp9VkYSgDt3h7oyNBfKhRPQRUDHKVZ_hFrGSSqk/s1600/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg421ITPZsPesUOI2hXgVG1WF14_fAj2TF57tS5xWllMsBfm3NGidRFaffVS-o8fWNCL26ZL_fdzjjTTqc39dbQ_RI2vLQVKGQjN8u0rp9VkYSgDt3h7oyNBfKhRPQRUDHKVZ_hFrGSSqk/s320/IMG_0097.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most random day at work haha.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkUALYCBIyL6Mrz90_wQ9Xo8AY8ddQKOyhNdI5zacdZY3kjvDWNIRNDr3E45OXSDL9raKzmL9uYsxptKAhcPBJ5Alfxk6KydPTpJJSiRRFCUCgAHMlXKB5_ilp01110voahwVOCy_yTk/s1600/IMG_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkUALYCBIyL6Mrz90_wQ9Xo8AY8ddQKOyhNdI5zacdZY3kjvDWNIRNDr3E45OXSDL9raKzmL9uYsxptKAhcPBJ5Alfxk6KydPTpJJSiRRFCUCgAHMlXKB5_ilp01110voahwVOCy_yTk/s320/IMG_0104.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelsey and I at the Romney event coincidently held at our high school!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnfQzkvPgBh-jafiuPMLAxjg74kYO0dAN0Y48yMYq6ROi82MxFVwXHiVodQgCNNXVy4sPyAas1Svk2ndApwnO4S4w4oLUdefm4C5SSUBr_cYWh-0JkKljPok95Zj-z5ATDJhyq6LKtoU/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnfQzkvPgBh-jafiuPMLAxjg74kYO0dAN0Y48yMYq6ROi82MxFVwXHiVodQgCNNXVy4sPyAas1Svk2ndApwnO4S4w4oLUdefm4C5SSUBr_cYWh-0JkKljPok95Zj-z5ATDJhyq6LKtoU/s320/IMG_0034.JPG" width="320" /></a>The rest of the summer was just all about family. I didn't care much for hanging out with friends (most of them were either in Provo our married anyway), all I wanted was to be with my family. I spent most days with my little brother at the gym or watching him play at gigs around town. Some nights I spent just hanging out with my mom or dad. Between working everyday and getting ready for school, there wasn't much time left anyway and family was my priority.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu_ICzwbkkVIFwPTmdUbxPxogLLuXmuOSY7Y7hyBxhrdB45C90ghEkz455mD9EEKZ01EkUdM9nhxLj_aA0KEeoEBcwz0ccS6Qi-8EDYcz4Yhfmwpb8RuHqABOzmf1XquCj1RCUQQY7pA/s1600/IMG_0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu_ICzwbkkVIFwPTmdUbxPxogLLuXmuOSY7Y7hyBxhrdB45C90ghEkz455mD9EEKZ01EkUdM9nhxLj_aA0KEeoEBcwz0ccS6Qi-8EDYcz4Yhfmwpb8RuHqABOzmf1XquCj1RCUQQY7pA/s320/IMG_0049.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2mCgMoQybtdLvOR_puP4BPTUExU58JSPQHlkgXSjQTFMyDF_l7oe8jNjAxR48sisk9AJIXqqeo6Rf_qbAS8k9htjSpH1yamYM8R7acWF3f4ywWJatNh2qmPgJ2NCUIFAtiTuPNxHva4/s1600/IMG_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2mCgMoQybtdLvOR_puP4BPTUExU58JSPQHlkgXSjQTFMyDF_l7oe8jNjAxR48sisk9AJIXqqeo6Rf_qbAS8k9htjSpH1yamYM8R7acWF3f4ywWJatNh2qmPgJ2NCUIFAtiTuPNxHva4/s320/IMG_0044.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0pkvvULl3dkP_chaGmRs1_YRLaNDKO3TolPR3pmiChrXkN64tN-lqILCWWQUQhfmXvi7q2X3-VD-VUnywU4I8NtWevnNZ2VL428jSF9n49qdpgFMr8N9fiZq1_XYCdU378vHT8TsHcU/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0pkvvULl3dkP_chaGmRs1_YRLaNDKO3TolPR3pmiChrXkN64tN-lqILCWWQUQhfmXvi7q2X3-VD-VUnywU4I8NtWevnNZ2VL428jSF9n49qdpgFMr8N9fiZq1_XYCdU378vHT8TsHcU/s320/IMG_0055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rockin' the tie Elder Posadas, one of my best friends from the mission, gave me. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWGHEVVk4n_z-C4dfc03QIHtwQbibwr7DWWe6a6jjsvKCr_kYAUvWoFYdFsqND7QJHJg24wb2umCJZBGoinCxvOp4W0GZajkzhKZ-3jBjAR72S8ZloMPR5eWdivnNQahZPCe81vw5Lqk/s1600/IMG_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWGHEVVk4n_z-C4dfc03QIHtwQbibwr7DWWe6a6jjsvKCr_kYAUvWoFYdFsqND7QJHJg24wb2umCJZBGoinCxvOp4W0GZajkzhKZ-3jBjAR72S8ZloMPR5eWdivnNQahZPCe81vw5Lqk/s400/IMG_0066.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving home after my first time getting back into the pool!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMe1hMfhFji_cM9uZwPH4OAJCeGkR_3p-FVuYWAP6NX33tNO4ERF3_UinGckgtG_ESvxKKGHqk-bZfP4kwKWT49NH0AT_a_aVx8OiLkdzXwtBlAwzIkOhIfPjYegxNhAy9V6IIiTc8iQ/s1600/DSC_2652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMe1hMfhFji_cM9uZwPH4OAJCeGkR_3p-FVuYWAP6NX33tNO4ERF3_UinGckgtG_ESvxKKGHqk-bZfP4kwKWT49NH0AT_a_aVx8OiLkdzXwtBlAwzIkOhIfPjYegxNhAy9V6IIiTc8iQ/s320/DSC_2652.JPG" width="320" /></a>The church also put me to work which kept me really busy and focused. My home ward had me teaching Sunday school to the youth which was a bit intimidating but also really fun to be able to spend time with them. And then, at the same time, the singles ward had me teaching in the elders quorum which was great as well. The stake used me as much as they could and had me teach mission preparation a few times and also used me a bit to help other church members register to vote. My parents also bought me an awesome new car to keep up with things that was exactly like my first car--just newer and more awesome-er.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing a bungee game on my first date back!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking lone mountain!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKFQj_UZFcrXOd7iaRUUC6cpk2rjuDTAMJtaiMeiYU3R0UWIrJzRTwhsLnXbEVAzM4LY83hQ-U4fJxtBvzqo84X7r5ZHbyP0ULrJp4SLu4MljkuG17monlIVqsQ0BbzcKwqY-RpFsHHQ/s1600/IMG_0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKFQj_UZFcrXOd7iaRUUC6cpk2rjuDTAMJtaiMeiYU3R0UWIrJzRTwhsLnXbEVAzM4LY83hQ-U4fJxtBvzqo84X7r5ZHbyP0ULrJp4SLu4MljkuG17monlIVqsQ0BbzcKwqY-RpFsHHQ/s200/IMG_0112.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QlmYsdbxvAt4juS6LRFRm83gDKlTO30VpfSDTAyChoNs63QVtX77r5GbKvruY0nIyxj4jwa7hGRh5G99dLTwGn1IKPPKYBWF_RBF8nadF90VzbtLZbpDV-WBYHJLuvP1G_GcvIL6M9U/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QlmYsdbxvAt4juS6LRFRm83gDKlTO30VpfSDTAyChoNs63QVtX77r5GbKvruY0nIyxj4jwa7hGRh5G99dLTwGn1IKPPKYBWF_RBF8nadF90VzbtLZbpDV-WBYHJLuvP1G_GcvIL6M9U/s320/IMG_0107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then in between everything, I did my best to give back to my high school and helped out as much as occasion permitted with the band program and saw a lot of teachers that I grew to love when I was a part of the school a few years back. I was extremely touched my last night before I drove up to BYU when the band put together a huge thank you card and present for all the work my brother and I put in to helping them with their show this year. It definitely made moving back up to school a lot harder.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvNYUCKtBdpupzFbfRYPWJ2Q3_HIuwmY1V3ZY7k80YSLr-My3DvzwgOTu1k3-OekhqhsxMcWkugphN2_-JsB0ZbzF755HxKwKMzGnNyDrzzW512mzy9dRwzd4NjwDo-icy_YWGX79l8w/s1600/IMG_0117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvNYUCKtBdpupzFbfRYPWJ2Q3_HIuwmY1V3ZY7k80YSLr-My3DvzwgOTu1k3-OekhqhsxMcWkugphN2_-JsB0ZbzF755HxKwKMzGnNyDrzzW512mzy9dRwzd4NjwDo-icy_YWGX79l8w/s320/IMG_0117.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cross country coach--Coach Atwell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkW_zW4glpQsVeQk2mL5fa_dx8CqhNoNNqmxLUqZGDtD00rRGk1bgAu0KTJdeD5LKBkn37xXHZFstZIYpRcUPshZhQvUAykh2rQ1lz9O9G-MNt2QW-aHsuxa9Jo5orioUJQ31FnrUzpZw/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkW_zW4glpQsVeQk2mL5fa_dx8CqhNoNNqmxLUqZGDtD00rRGk1bgAu0KTJdeD5LKBkn37xXHZFstZIYpRcUPshZhQvUAykh2rQ1lz9O9G-MNt2QW-aHsuxa9Jo5orioUJQ31FnrUzpZw/s320/IMG_0119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving early Saturday to make it back up to Provo!</td></tr>
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And finally after a transfers stay at home (six weeks), I packed up my things and moved back up here to the great land of Provo. It was all really fast. I came up the day right before school started with my family and got things all settled in and ready to go. My first weekend I didn't do anything but grocery shop with Mat since Libby wasn't back in town and had dinner with my family and my Tagalog teacher that I served with in Quezon City. Monday came, and school was well underway.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC4Id7hm__0xVszIAauQyh05Or-XO9BMLX60mOwZjDsqUdVRvsKjZGryveidhAZOkfEKTjg3ExdPSgNHHZZgpPL1vtb2-wNAapMRv4tg73Z4CT6dv8G4xjadaFCh2ENH2_E_xtLIjkCU/s1600/IMG_0122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC4Id7hm__0xVszIAauQyh05Or-XO9BMLX60mOwZjDsqUdVRvsKjZGryveidhAZOkfEKTjg3ExdPSgNHHZZgpPL1vtb2-wNAapMRv4tg73Z4CT6dv8G4xjadaFCh2ENH2_E_xtLIjkCU/s400/IMG_0122.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner at P.F. Chang's with my Tagalog Teacher.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grocer shoppin' with Mat!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlorXDKe4TQTcUNltEYrStaMnZ742BJEi_j-FSWDKKt0F_CHm_G9S7rvr7bt-_JhbAUkw987LtT-J_-f2qkWn31BVnKCK2YzqlRGCpPQzNc844nuPGko8i7t3mUmxrTufD0Yfb-Tndok/s1600/IMG_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlorXDKe4TQTcUNltEYrStaMnZ742BJEi_j-FSWDKKt0F_CHm_G9S7rvr7bt-_JhbAUkw987LtT-J_-f2qkWn31BVnKCK2YzqlRGCpPQzNc844nuPGko8i7t3mUmxrTufD0Yfb-Tndok/s320/IMG_0125.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day of school!</td></tr>
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School has been a whole new ball game coming back from the mission. I undeclared my physiology and developmental biology major before my mission and declared neuroscience but now am in the process of leaning away from neuroscience and broadening my perspective a bit. I realized that my heart really wasn't in science and that it'd be extremely hard to become a doctor if I just didn't enjoy science. So now, I've just been exploring everything from music to business and finding where my heart is.<br />
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I made it a point to go home for my 22nd birthday since I haven't been able to celebrate my birthday with my family since I turned 18.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some fun in my Tagalog class.</td></tr>
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Since I've been back at school, I've been back and forth from Vegas nearly every weekend for my birthday and then for my trainer's wedding. Regardless, not complaining.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our awesome condo and my home away from home.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We know how to grocery shop.</td></tr>
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Some of the biggest steps I've made include really pursuing singing from the mission and joining BYUSA, the student association here that could also be considered the student government.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first committee dinner!</td></tr>
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Joining BYUSA has been by far the best decision I've made since I've come to college. I got the idea from advisement when they told me that involved students do far much better than your average--so I took that and came to BYUSA with my hands ready to work. I'm now an event lead in the activities part of BYUSA heading the "blender event" which I'll talk a little more about in the future.<br />
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Also, I've been taking vocal lessons and am in a few classes to take a wack at just doing something that I love. It's been great so far and I practice as much as I can. I went out on a limb and decided to audition for BYU's "Glee" performing group also known as "GLEE-Y-U". More than fifty people later, I made it past the first and second callbacks and made it in! I'm really excited to start singing with them and hope that it will just be my first step in going somewhere with singing.<br />
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And now, <b>I'm here.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIT8QkJk7BU0wFeiJ4oRV-2HdfHWn7j58QY_bCQWTKNlyER-mTjUY0jyrLYiFXTMCVpcxWYXVruZRWD5p0iuel-cRACxVIc0vfomUv7E46yaHqg-GjZ8kAcl1mZanYnQhWcFUJuWYC_6g/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIT8QkJk7BU0wFeiJ4oRV-2HdfHWn7j58QY_bCQWTKNlyER-mTjUY0jyrLYiFXTMCVpcxWYXVruZRWD5p0iuel-cRACxVIc0vfomUv7E46yaHqg-GjZ8kAcl1mZanYnQhWcFUJuWYC_6g/s320/IMG_0247.JPG" width="320" /></a>This past week has been really hectic with the first round of midterms. I feel like I'm drowning in school work and things have really started to pick up with BYUSA and my committee, so life has been a bit more busy than comfortable. I somehow made it back into the Symphonic Band since I've been back at BYU and had my first band concert this past week which made things a bit more chaotic and took a night of studying away from me. The <i>Instrumental Showcase</i>, however, was amazing and all of my very best friends came. It's hard with performances like these when you don't have family around, but when you have friends who might as well be family, it's not so bad.</div>
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And then this weekend I went and saw Jake (my past companion) perform with Vocal Point, was able to go on a little date with a friend of friend last Frida,y and then spent the day in Salt Lake City yesterday for Abe's birthday with all of my BYUSA friends. We went and saw the Imagine Dragons concert which was well worth the time and drive. It was the best day I've had in awhile. Imagine Dragons has really hit it big since they've left from BYU and is also a Vegas band so I definitely endorse them. Oh, and the other day was <i>National Siblings Day</i>!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake right in the middle singing his heart out!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group at the Imagine Dragons concert! I love BYUSA!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This new mall that the church built right by temple square is gorgeous!</td></tr>
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Today was a short but long Sunday. I really wanted to make it up to Ogden to see an old mission friend's homecoming, but got an unexpected call from a member of the high council who extended me the calling of being the first counselor in the elders quorom presidency. Plans had to change and I wasn't able to go, but I'm sure I'll be able to see all of them soon. Spent the rest of the day home-teaching with Brigham and just got back from an amazing dessert party at the Loveridge's who made the most amazing donuts I've ever had.<br />
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So that's it, you are completely caught up with my life!<br />
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Now the question, why am I spending so much time blogging again?<br />
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I'm currently taking a<i> Writing and Speaking for Business </i>class which has required us to keep an application blog. (I apparently was supposed to start this weeks ago, but misunderstood instructions so I'm starting now!) The purpose of the assignment is to help us to apply the things we've learned in life so that we can (a) remember the experiences we have and (b) not repeat the same mistakes and apply lessons learned. My professor is an absolute genius. So every blog from here on out will have a flat out <i>So What? </i>and <i>Now what? </i>section to completely sum up what I feel has been the lesson of the week. Here's the first.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>So what?</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iF1bhfo5Te99vyGIe7woBJkYf_0kY7g6Ic3ksVn85OL_0luxmJYSLq67a0iI901rulzChv_sRcgds9eBQ1jYc1pchJAjmLd6behYOEryx2XFS7E8wuy2gisL_r51I0TLHxYiQH7zuNI/s1600/IMG_2325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iF1bhfo5Te99vyGIe7woBJkYf_0kY7g6Ic3ksVn85OL_0luxmJYSLq67a0iI901rulzChv_sRcgds9eBQ1jYc1pchJAjmLd6behYOEryx2XFS7E8wuy2gisL_r51I0TLHxYiQH7zuNI/s200/IMG_2325.jpg" width="200" /></a>A couple months back when I came up to Provo to apply for the MTC, I was able to take Libby out for dinner while Mat was in Salt Lake for EMT training. It was a great night to get to know Libby and what an amazing girl she is. Something I noticed that really stuck out to me from our conversation that night is how she consistently commented that everything has a<i> process</i>. Nearly nothing in life is instantaneous--nothing of worth anyway. That really struck me. I've realized this summer that Libby is right. Finding a major, finding someone to marry, getting good grades, achieving my dreams--life is just a series of processes that we need to go through, and sometimes we get frustrated when these processes don't turn out the way we want them to in the timing that we want them to.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Now what?</b></span><br />
<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/431663_10152137843985392_1287766397_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/431663_10152137843985392_1287766397_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>The realization of this, first of all, is extremely important and can save a lot of heartache. I've learned that going through these various processes can be really frustrating at times, but something that I've also learned to live this week is just to not give up. To keep pushing anyway. Maybe things won't go the way I want them to (they rarely do anyway) but that's okay. As long as I am actively taking steps in the right direction, things will work out, and they always do. Life is a process and it's making it through each of these tiny little processes everyday that makes us the people that we are. So never give up and push through even what seems to be impossible. Because the beautiful part is, impossible things are happening everyday.<br />
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Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-41238961835380831112012-09-23T23:55:00.000-06:002012-09-24T10:07:51.197-06:00Let it begin.Well, it's official.<br />
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I'm back!<br />
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It's good to finally have finished designing this blog and getting it ready to go for the school year. It took me a few months, but I'm excited to get back in the swing of things--at least here on blogger.<br />
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I'll ease back into things with a really short blog. I promise to catch you up with my life since the mission in my next blog.<br />
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This weekend has been challenging. Between allergies, Glee-Y-U callbacks, and a series of preventable mistakes, my weekend started out fairly far from pristine.<br />
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Yesterday was definitely one of those days--not even worth the time to mention.<br />
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But today--today was good.<br />
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The Brigham City temple dedication was today, and it was a really great, new experience. Unfortunately, it was fairly early and the building was extremely warm, so I was only awake for about half of the session. Regardless, I enjoyed it much.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiq9pOzRq1T21VKP7PkAeoQUBgLdZh-PgBWqbJKTf-b47knhkA4VT83qoh69HSnwkMWhHZ2qv-QUcIBitpodASEuMz_kYJpybc9SJHzBYcukMUS2OeHvYm9ax90jnrKQ7HvmZ628OrEsM/s1600/IMG_7089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiq9pOzRq1T21VKP7PkAeoQUBgLdZh-PgBWqbJKTf-b47knhkA4VT83qoh69HSnwkMWhHZ2qv-QUcIBitpodASEuMz_kYJpybc9SJHzBYcukMUS2OeHvYm9ax90jnrKQ7HvmZ628OrEsM/s320/IMG_7089.JPG" width="320" /></a>Afterwards, Tyler, Spencer, Christian, and Dave, some old mission buddies, came over and we made some Filipino food for our little reunion today. It was so great to spend time with them just like the good days wearing shirt and ties, listening to EFY, and cooking Filipino food. We had a lot of fun reminiscing and enjoying each other's company. The friends you make on the mission are irreplaceable.<br />
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It was good to be reminded today of my mission.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9u9LTx2R-FmMvyeYP80ckm9GuOimMe0WLdvOwFAaM0d7GpMzJOn4UlP7pqFi0fTO360iD3IH7wJb96jOtpSQ6z037GKS86Myw9xVGRe8MTZ04CNffcmc3sMWqM9o29Elq_807HiDXKY/s1600/IMG_7090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9u9LTx2R-FmMvyeYP80ckm9GuOimMe0WLdvOwFAaM0d7GpMzJOn4UlP7pqFi0fTO360iD3IH7wJb96jOtpSQ6z037GKS86Myw9xVGRe8MTZ04CNffcmc3sMWqM9o29Elq_807HiDXKY/s320/IMG_7090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After the reunion, I spent a really good amount of time with one of my really good friends, Matt Olson, that I met in the MTC and caught up for the first time in a couple years. By mere coincidence, we ran into each other at the mission reunion which was quite the surprise!</div>
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And then as soon as Matt left, I had to hurry and make dinner for my best friend Mat and his now fiancé, Libby. They had me over for dinner last week, so I offered to make them dinner this week to pay them back. It's been great to be back together with Mat after three years and I'm so happy for the two of them to get married. They are definitely going to change the world.</div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/198534_10152119465265392_1693735873_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/198534_10152119465265392_1693735873_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Finally right after, I went to a dessert party which wasn't exactly what I expected it to be. Just a lot of immature college kids who are living the shallow, high school life still. Megan and I left not after too long because we were tired of getting looked at like we weren't good enough to be there.</div>
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The theme of the weekend seemed to be that regardless of whatever plans you may have, things, more often then not, do not go the way you would like them to. I've made my share of mistakes, big and small, but I've found that the important part is that you learn to let them build you. Attitude is paramount. Sitting down and pouting, hoping that things will change without putting forth effort is just as useless as making wishes. Regardless the situation and how bad things seem, things always get better faster if you move forward in the right direction with your chin up. </div>
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Sometimes the dreams and aspirations we have seem like they are impossible when we just sit in the haze of our mistakes, but fortunately, impossible things are happening everyday.</div>
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It's good to be back. I'm ready to begin again.</div>
Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-15438247437437698542010-06-28T09:47:00.004-06:002010-06-28T09:52:02.512-06:00Series of miracles.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aloha! E komo mai!</span></span><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That means hello and welcome in Hawaiian... that’s all I know though so don’t ask me anything else haha.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway, I’m on the plane right now on the way back from Hawaii and well, it’s time for another massive blog; it won’t be anywhere near as long as the last one though so don’t you worry about a thing.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Everything has just been zooming past ever since I left Provo. I got back Thursday night, had a day at home and left Friday night for Hawaii. Now, I’m on my way back... where is time going?</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs128.snc4/36741_10150213098775392_746100391_13167381_4808450_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs128.snc4/36741_10150213098775392_746100391_13167381_4808450_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Friday was filled with last-minute appts before my mission and lots and lots of packing. That night I made it a point to see Marie since she’d be gone by the time I got back from Hawaii. It was also Theresa’s birthday but my mom wouldn’t let me drive anywhere because of my leg so I couldn’t really make it to that. Anyway, later that night Marie came by and picked me up and then we met Julia at BJ’s for one last little meal together. I couldn’t tell you how much those two girls mean to me. I met Marie a couple years back when I started working as a lifeguard for the City of Las Vegas at Doolittle Pool. We had the </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">best</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> staff ever. Everyone got along with each other and we basically had every end of the spectrum represented. Here’s a little map:</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Brian aka Donk-dizzle: world’s best manager ever, early twenties, white guy who thinks he’s black</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dwayne aka DK: professional model/ladykiller</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tilawat aka Top: short, crazy Asian breaker who definitely had some tricks</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kendahl aka KK: chill black girl with one big ghetto booty </span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Raquel aka Rochelle aka Roshanda: crazy black girl who wasn’t afraid to tell you what’s up but also very smart and sophisticated</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">George: the weird one at work; late 20s ex-Army creeper - made all the girls uncomfortable</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jasmine (cashier): the </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">blondest</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> black girl you’ll ever meet - I’ll share a story about her in a little</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dalmone (cashier): funniest black girl ever, really nice and laughs really hard at all our jokes</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Marie: the guardshack’s sweetheart and man-magnet; the smart cheerleader that everyone wanted</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: probably the whitest-prepiest kid in the shack</span></span></li>
</ul><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Everyday at “Dirty Doo” was a party. Everyone loved everyone and got along with everyone (well except for George haha). Doolittle is on Lake Mead and J Street aka the straight up </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">legit</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> ghetto of Vegas, so we got a lot of inner-city kids whose parents send them to the pool everyday because it’s really cheap babysitting. We got basically the same kids everyday and got to know every single one of them by name.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So that funny story about Jasmine (okay I know this blog is supposed to be about Hawaii but stay with me). I want you to picture the blonde-est person you’ve ever met in your life and now put her in a rather large black female body. So here’s a couple stories:</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One day, Brian decided that he wanted to hide Jasmine’s money box (which was basically her job; if she lost it she’d get fired). So he took it and put it in the freezer. Later when Jasmine finally noticed, she starts yelling and screaming (again picture her ghetto-big self) asking if anyone had seen her money box. Brian wasn’t conspicuous at all hiding it so we all knew where it was and were all dying of laughter. I’m pretty sure I had to leave for a second because I was laughing so hard. So Brian finally goes, “Ey Jasmine, could you get me an otter pop?” and she responds (with her ghetto ebonics accent) “BRIAN, AN OTTER POP? AT A TIME LIKE THIS? BOY THIS BE A CRISIS!” So she makes it to the fridge, opens it, looks straight at the money box, and turns around and says... “What flava you want?” Hahahahhah! Brian responds “The red one, under the money box” and she just starts laughing and is like “oh okay, ya’ll stupid!” Good times. Ask me to tell you more stories in person, they’re so much more funny.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs148.snc4/36741_10150213098795392_746100391_13167383_5188231_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs148.snc4/36741_10150213098795392_746100391_13167383_5188231_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway, needless to say I fell in love with Marie at Doolittle, I mean, how could you not? We became really, really close ever since and have become the best of friends ever since our days at Doolittle. We especially got really close last summer when I started to party with her and Julia. Julia has been such a great friend too. I barely met her last year and now she’s such a big part of my life. What I love the most about Julia is that she’s completely straight up with you and isn’t scared to tell you what’s up. What I love even more is how supportive she is of me. Sometimes being lds kind of sucks when you don’t have friends that respect decisions you make but she always has. Especially going on a mission, I know she’s proud of me and supports me all the way and will definitely do her best to keep in touch.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So that night was really hard to keep in the tears, but I did and was a tough guy. We had a great dinner and of course got some pizookies to top it all off. We said our goodbyes and I was home in time to make mommy happy.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just to show you how much of a sweetheart Marie is later that week I got a text from her literally right before she went into boot camp at the Air Force Academy saying one last goodbye but also reminding me to make the best of my time with my family and reminding me that she’ll be here waiting when I get back from my mission. I love and miss her so much already.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs014.ash2/34047_10150215577515392_746100391_13256676_297028_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs014.ash2/34047_10150215577515392_746100391_13256676_297028_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So our flight took off late that night at about 2:30am and we made it to Hawaii at about 6:00am. I was super jetlagged and my body was so confused because Provo is four hours ahead of Hawaii. We made it over and had breakfast at my grandparents house in Kalihi which was awesome. We got there and the table and food were set and ready to go. I love them so much and it was so nice of them to have us over. Even if we are relatives, cooking still takes work and I don’t think that should go overlooked. We spent the rest of the day with my baby cousin Matthew who barely turned two this past year. It seems like the theme of this vacation was Matthew and the beach. We had dinner at their house that night and then retired for an early night to a long day.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs014.snc4/34047_10150215577580392_746100391_13256689_3457557_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs014.snc4/34047_10150215577580392_746100391_13256689_3457557_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sunday was Father’s Day. I </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">really</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> wanted to just have a BYU Sunday and be in church but that wasn’t going to happen. We went to the infamous “Swap Meet” to get stuff to bring back for our friends. I insisted on getting four new pairs of old school 80s sunglasses in four bright colors haha. Afterwards we made it to Hickam Harbor and went kayaking with my Uncle Gener, Matthew’s dad and my mom’s younger brother. It was quite the experience. None of us had done it before so it took a little getting used to. My little brother and I went out first to literally test the waters. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs034.snc4/34047_10150215577630392_746100391_13256699_3931309_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs034.snc4/34047_10150215577630392_746100391_13256699_3931309_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Getting out was really easy and being swimmers we knew how to grab and pull the water so we caught on pretty quick; it was especially really easy because we had the wind to our backs pushing us out. The only really tough part was steering, but even that wasn’t too bad. Coming back though was rough haha. Going against the wind I think it took us almost </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">double</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> the time and water was just kicking up in our faces the whole time. Well we eventually made it out and everyone took turns going out the whole day as well as playing with baby Matt in the shallow end. Afterwards we went back to my Grandpa’s house to have probably the </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">best</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Father’s Day dinner I’ve ever had. We saw our Uncle Roger’s family (my dad’s younger brother) for the first time in nearly five years and it was great to finally have a little reunion with them. Dinner was a bit strange as I forgot how it is to see drunk people when all the parents started drinking. The food was really awesome and I got to meet my little cousin Sophie who is now four for the first time. She’s a cutie but is really, really shy.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs109.snc4/35799_10150215578455392_746100391_13256721_6743276_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs109.snc4/35799_10150215578455392_746100391_13256721_6743276_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Monday was kind of just for me. We drove to Liae on the other side of the island because I wanted to see the BYU campus and the temple. The campus was </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">so</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> tiny compared to BYU Provo. I think it’d be pretty to accurate to say that it was about the size of my middle school. It makes sense though; they only have 2,000 kids there and we have just over 30,000 at BYU Provo. It was great though and definitely a good experience. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The temple was awesome. They had a visitors center and I got to talk to some sister missionaries like I did the previous week with Chandler. One of the sisters I met was actually good friends with my friend Aaron from BYU/Vegas so it was really cool to get to talk to her. When I left the sisters hooked me up with a Book of Mormon in Tagalog (</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the official Filipino language I’ll be speaking on my mission</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">) and in Ilocano (</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the dialect my parents speak and the language that’s heard in my house</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">) so that was really cool.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs296.snc3/28486_10150215578735392_746100391_13256728_3601285_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs296.snc3/28486_10150215578735392_746100391_13256728_3601285_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Afterwards we stopped at Waimea Valley to see the waterfalls but thought it was a rip off because we saw some pretty awesome waterfalls in Maui a few years back that we didn’t have to pay for so we dipped and went to spend some time at the Dole Plantation. My brother and I got these awesome bracelets with our Hawaiian names on them and then we got the best froyo ever - pineapple with fresh pineapple haha. Anyway, we headed back to the other side of the island and had dinner and a movie with baby Matt at their place and then went to bed for the night.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tuesday we went to breakfast and then went shopping at Ala Moana mall. Alright so if you know me well, the mall and clothes for me are, well, a big part of my life haha. Growing up in Summerlin you gotta look good all the time because dressing down consists of wearing designer jeans and a hanes-T. Anyway, as I was walking around the mall I had absolutely </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">no</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> desire to buy clothes of any sort at all. I didn’t even want to look at them... and they had some </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">great</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> stores too! </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Weird right?</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Definitely </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">not</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> typical of me. I think its from hanging out with Addison so much. I just really don’t even care what I wear nowadays. I have no first impressions to make and everyone who knows me, knows me with trashy clothes and nice clothes so what’s the point? For the first time as long as I can remember, being at the mall was miserable. So what did I do? Go the book store and look at Men’s Fitness/health magazines because that actually interests me haha. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs066.ash2/36647_10150215579525392_746100391_13256746_4285960_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs066.ash2/36647_10150215579525392_746100391_13256746_4285960_n.jpg" width="214" /></span></span></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well not after too long we left and relaxed at the hotel for a bit and then headed to Paradise Cove for what was supposed to be the island’s best lu’au. Well, I’d say it was! It was really different. They had lots of activities and what not before the food was served which is definitely out of the blue. We made these sick crowns of banana tree leaves, had awesome Mai Tai drinks, got polynesian tribal tatoos, played some traditional games, got a hula lesson, and learned all about the culture. It was kind of like a mini-Polynesian Cultural Center for just Hawaii. I really enjoyed it and the view was gorgeous. We started dinner and had the show which had some awesome dancing and funny jokes. The view of the sunset over the ocean was tremendous, I couldn’t even explain to you. We were sitting to next to a kind of celebrity couple - the CEO of WWE and his wife haha. Anyway, after it was all over we left Paradise Cove and went back to Waikiki for the night.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs042.snc4/34454_10150216126030392_746100391_13272037_6228368_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs042.snc4/34454_10150216126030392_746100391_13272037_6228368_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wednesday we picked up Matthew for the morning and went and spent some time playing at the beach. He was pretty tired though so he fell asleep not after long on my shoulder. Then we met up with an old-time family friend, Rante and his fiance at the BX. We knew Rante all the way back in the Oklahoma City days were I spent most of my younger years through elementary school. We had a clan of family that raised us all and he played a big part in, well, babysitting me and my brother haha. It was cool to be able to see him after almost </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ten</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> years. Anyway, afterwards we went back to the hotel to get freshened up for our dinner Catamaran cruise that night with my Uncle Gener & Auntie Mariah, and Grandpa & Grandma. It was basically like a lu’au on the ocean. Jason got kind of seasick but I thought it was awesome. </span></span></span><br />
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</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs062.snc4/34454_10150216126070392_746100391_13272045_1483272_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs062.snc4/34454_10150216126070392_746100391_13272045_1483272_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs040.snc4/34346_10150216984790392_746100391_13292167_4909381_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs040.snc4/34346_10150216984790392_746100391_13292167_4909381_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thursday morning was an early morning. We got up around seven and went to Hanauma Bay to go snorkeling. I had never been snorkeling before and of course the whole wildlife thing isn’t really my scene. Truth be told, I’m </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">terrified</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of anything that’s not human so being this close to fishes and wildlife was a bit of a step for me. Snorkeling itself was also a new experience for me. I thought it’d be pretty easy, I mean I swim so it </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">should</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> be easy right? </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">No.</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Breathing was actually </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">harder</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> with the snorkel I thought! It was a lot of fun though. My brother and I went out really far, in fact all the way to the danger buoys which was a surprise </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and an accident</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. We saw some </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">awesome</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> fish!</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs040.snc4/34346_10150216984805392_746100391_13292170_2029845_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs040.snc4/34346_10150216984805392_746100391_13292170_2029845_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I wasn’t paying attention when we first went out though and got us stuck in some coral though haha. Jason, like the retard he is, panicked when we got stuck, kicked harder and cut his knee on the coral haha. Of course, Matthew and his family joined us again because we just couldn’t get enough of that champ. Mom and dad went out and so did my aunt and uncle. By the time I went out for the second time the current had really picked up and was throwing us everywhere so we were done for the day because it was kicking up all the sand and we couldn’t see hardly anything. That night we met up with my Auntie Lani and Stan for dinner. My dad’s brother was married to her but passed away some-odd years ago but we, of course, still stay in touch because she’s family and my cousin Marlo was a big part of our lives growing up. She is in this </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">amazing</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> house at the top of one of the mountains in the island and you can basically see the whole island from it. She took us out to dinner at this kick-butt legit Chinese place and we caught up for the past few years that I’ve missed out on seeing her.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs142.snc4/36470_10150218464160392_746100391_13339285_2519752_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs142.snc4/36470_10150218464160392_746100391_13339285_2519752_n.jpg" width="133" /></span></span></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Friday we went to the windy </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pali Lookout</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and then went kayaking again because my dad was so obsessed with it haha. Except this time, we got a double for my parents and my brother and I got singles. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was fun haha. We raced around Hickam Harbor and made it pretty far. My brother, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">of course</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, flipped his kayak over in the middle of the water and I had to help him back on haha. Afterwards we got ready and had dinner at my grandpa’s again. This really meant a lot to me because my grandpa and grandma put together a meal just for me and cooked all of my favorite foods. It really wasn’t a big deal to anyone else but to me it was. Small and simple things like that make a difference in my life and I couldn’t have been more happier or thankful for them. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs044.ash2/35584_10150218464750392_746100391_13339305_5721539_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs044.ash2/35584_10150218464750392_746100391_13339305_5721539_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Saturday was quite a treat for me as well. If you’ve ever been to the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Polynesian Cultural Center</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, you know what I’m talking about. Well, I had been joking around with my mom coming back to Hawaii and said that I wanted to go back there but she had other plans, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">reasonably</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, because every time we go to Hawaii we go there. But on Thursday when we had dinner with Auntie Lani and Stan, he mentioned that they had a new show there. So my wish came true and my parents surprised me and my brother with full day tickets there including the lu’au and the new show entitled “Hā: Breath of Life.” We headed up the island back to Liae and spent the day there going to funny shows and trying lots of different polynesian things. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs044.ash2/35584_10150218464790392_746100391_13339313_3754953_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs044.ash2/35584_10150218464790392_746100391_13339313_3754953_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">T</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">he canoe ride is my favorite. They are </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">so </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">funny there! You just need to experience it. Ask me about some stories, I’d love to share them with you. Writing them here just won’t do it justice. The lu’au was well, a typical lu’au with a little bit of fresh rain to cool everyone off. The show was amazing. The concept was really neat and the organization was great. It was a story of a boy and the journey throughout his life to the different polynesian islands. Some parts of the show had a </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">little bit of cheese on top</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> but otherwise it was great. The show itself comes from the word “</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aloha</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">” which, as you know, in Hawaiian means </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">hello, goodbye, and I love you</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. The word literally though, comes from two words “alo” and “ha”. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Alo</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> meaning </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">life</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ha</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> meaning </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">breath</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">; so literally, “</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the breath of life</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.” The show, as my mom put it, is kind of like the whole circle of life, Lion King thing. It talks about how love brings forth a child and in a child is the breath of life and how that is passed along to the next generations and generations to come, through love. I’ve still yet to see a show better than that show (</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">as far as polynesian dancing is concerned</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">) so that can give you the kind of caliber it's on. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs066.ash2/36653_10150218465560392_746100391_13339333_2930159_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs066.ash2/36653_10150218465560392_746100391_13339333_2930159_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finally, Sunday, today, was goodbye day. We all had brunch at Zippy’s with basically or closest relatives here. It was a bit sad but still good. We had good conversation as of course Matthew kept us entertained. Then we migrated outside and goodbyes began. We took lots of pictures, everyone wished me good luck in the Philippines, and then we were off.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now, I’m on the plane home to Vegas. Although I’m kind of sad the trip is over, I’m </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">so</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> excited for tomorrow. Ally, Matt, and I are going to Santa Barbara and Ventura for a few days to see some good friends from BYU. I really wanted to go because my two best friends from BYU are in that area: Bri in Ventura and Addison in Santa Barbara and of course, who else would I want to spend my last few days with before I leave on my mission? So I arranged for a little trip and we’re going to see them and a few others while we’re there. We’ll be there until Wednesday and then I leave back to California on Friday to see all my mom’s side of the family for the Fourth.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs089.snc4/35799_10150215578425392_746100391_13256715_6176746_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs089.snc4/35799_10150215578425392_746100391_13256715_6176746_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Needless to say my life has just been a miracle lately. I couldn’t ask for any better. Great family, great friends, and even more important, my mission is coming up. I really owe it all to BYU. The people there have given me such a good way to look out on life. I remember just not too long ago, Mat helping me struggle out of rough times and bringing me to the Church; when I thought the world was out to get me and each day was just a struggle of things against me. Now, I’m completely different. It’s all about what Bishop Grant taught us in his secret to life: </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">be positive. </span></span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs146.snc4/36647_10150215579550392_746100391_13256751_3171393_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs146.snc4/36647_10150215579550392_746100391_13256751_3171393_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today our flight was supposed to leave at 2:30pm. As the plane went down to the runway, it stopped, and the pilot informed us that we’d have to switch aircraft because of a malfunction in the current one. Our flight would be delayed nearly two hours and I feel like everyone in the cabin wanted to cry, including me. But it didn’t take me long to snap out of that. I looked around and realized that I could make myself miserable like everyone else and make the next two hours the longest two hours of my life, or I could just look at it in a positive way. The pilot was doing his most important job: </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">keeping us safe</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How could I complain about that</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">? Besides, they would have to deal with enough cranky people so I definitely didn’t need to add to that. So I looked at my brother and parents and said, “Hey everyone, let’s just be positive about this!” Of course everyone looked at me like I had </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">lost my mind </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">haha so I just put on a smile and unboarded the plane with a little bit of a jolly spunk to keep everyone’s spirits up. To my surprise I turned on a phone to a text from Adds which always makes me happy. Nothing like hearing from one of your best friends. And on top of that, I got a text from Kirt’s mom asking me for my address because Kirt’s been wanting to write me and none of my letters had been getting to him and I also got a call from one of the sister missionaries from temple square.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Being happy and looking at your life as a series of miracles instead of tragedies definitely changes attitudes of not only yourself, but people around you as well. I guess I lied about this blog not being long but oh well. I definitely don’t want to forget any of these moments so forgive the length.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile, I’m going to watch How to Tame a Dragon (is that the title?) with my brother on the plane so until next time kids.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aloha & Mahalo.</span></span></span><br />
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</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs126.snc4/36647_10150215579565392_746100391_13256754_3059275_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs126.snc4/36647_10150215579565392_746100391_13256754_3059275_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422156883969175971.post-9293687231340635272010-06-23T03:57:00.005-06:002010-06-23T04:50:51.508-06:00They made me ready.Forewarning: this is going to be the <b>longest</b> blog I’ve ever written; this is more for me to remember than for you to read.<br />
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I can’t believe that Spring semester is already over. I’m not sure if I could take eight more weeks of it, but it definitely ended <i>too</i> soon. Not going to get too much into that right now; I’ll get to that. First, a really late, and <i>really long</i> recap.<br />
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Last Wednesday, (yeah we’re going <b>way</b> back folks) I woke up to a pleasant message on my whiteboard from Adds telling me he wouldn’t be at weight training that day which was perfect because I wasn’t going to be there either since I had <u>so</u> much to do. I was so fed up with dressing up for school that I just threw on a shirt, jeans, and my running shoes - <i>never saw that one coming</i>. I crutched my way over to class and did work pretty much the rest of the day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs284.snc3/27878_10150207617880392_746100391_13003656_712760_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs284.snc3/27878_10150207617880392_746100391_13003656_712760_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My psychology group had to do this experiment so we all met in the library at three. It was actually a lot more fun than I could’ve imagined. We all were supposed to bring a person because we needed eight people total... of course no one came through except Addison as my person, so we had to track down four other people to conduct the experiment. We were learning about neurons and all that schnuff and tested reaction time by sitting in a circle and squeezing the persons arm/leg next to the other person and seeing how fast that got around. Anyway after that was over Adds and I “studied” (as you can see) in the library until seven and then headed back to the dorms. Chan and I had a heart to heart and then decided to go get some shaved ice at Hokulia; they have the <b>best</b> shaved ice ever. Chan and I finished the infamous “big kahuna” which is pretty freaking gigantic. We headed back, I finished the glee finale, and went to bed. It was also Shelly’s birthday so right before I gave her the awesome card that me and Adds made for her.<br />
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Basketball was pretty much pointless with my bum leg now. Finally I had my doctors appointment at the health center on Thursday. After basically raping Addison’s door, I got him up and we made it over to the health center for my appointment. I got there and checked in... and got blood boiling news. <i>Apparently</i> my appointment was an hour earlier at 8:40am. That was <u>without a doubt</u> incorrect. I <i>specifically remembered</i> the lady saying <b>9:40am</b> and also putting it straight into my calendar clarifying it several times before I got off the phone with her the previous Monday. Anyway, there was nothing either of us could do because the doctor had left already; typical of my luck. I felt really bad for getting Adds up that early but he was able to roll back into bed just fine; besides, now I <i>for sure </i>wasn’t going to be late for my appointment with Sister Burgon to talk about my last test. So I made it up the hill with my three legs and decided that I wanted to get her a thank you card for all the hard work she put into grading our question assignments and then headed to the JSB to get the low down on my grade. She’s such a great teacher that genuinely cares about all her students. I felt like if she could, she would give me A+’s on everything, but there’s nothing logical about that so let’s be real. Afterwards I went downstairs to knock out an assignment I had due for psychology and then took at nap on the seats before class. Then class, weight training, and then Addison and I went to Legend’s for the last time. We had some pretty good memories at Legend’s this past semester; whether it was breakfast for those couple weeks, or all the other weeks we went right after weight training. It was cool <i>trying</i> to get into ESPN haha even though the only sports they show are the ones that I don’t play and don’t really have any interest in. We always made it in time for the show “The Horn” which I actually grew to like; regardless of the fact that I had absolutely <b>no</b> idea what anyone was talking about. Anyway, we left Legends to find it was raining outside--no bueno for crutches. Addison ran into the RB to check something for his dad as I got a head start back to the dorms. I nearly ate it in the middle of the cross walk, slipping around in my crutches, but I made it out okay. Eventually Addison caught up and we made it back to the dorms. I was extra late to Psychology that day for our last day of class so Adds drove me pretty much right up to the door and I endured one last occurrence of that <b>terribly</b> taught class (I wish you could see the course eval I wrote for the class haha). After class, I was starving so I went out to dinner with one of the missionaries I had when I got baptized to Tucano’s. <u>Love</u> that place, and it was nice to catch up with Nick. Got back just in time to catch the last few minutes of the game and then went with Hannah to go play broomball... only to realize that broomball was <b>cancelled </b>for the night haha. Oh well, it seems like each epic fail I have always makes way for an opportunity, so I used this one to get my laundry done haha. Bowman and Addison came over and chilled with me and Chan for a bit and then everyone parted and got their work done for the night.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs336.ash1/28948_10150209453905392_746100391_13055613_153217_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs336.ash1/28948_10150209453905392_746100391_13055613_153217_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Friday was weird for weather. It started out pretty nice, but ended dark and dreary. I snoozed though (but was physically there) PDBIO and then Lyndsey, Chan, and I made it to lunch at the Skyroom to burn of some money from Lyndsey’s card. As always, the combination of the two was quite the entertainment factor. We ran into Seth and Fitzy there, not to mention a couple others, and trying to talk to nearly everyone made me barely late for my doctor’s appointment that day. Of course I got there only to find the doctor himself was running late, so I called Addison and told him not to wait up because I had no idea how long I’d be. So finally he showed up nearly an hour later and I got in. He told me I had torn my <i>adductor magnus</i> muscle in my leg and I learned that that was actually a <b>good </b>thing rather than a ligament. I also learned that this doctor would be my branch president in the MTC for my mission! Weird right? <b>What a coincidence.</b> He put me in a knee immobilizer so that I could maneuver around without crutches (thank heavens) and let my leg heal faster. Chan (after getting lost for half and hour) picked me up and I laid down for a nice long nap. I woke up to Preston prying me out of bed to grab dinner at the canc. It was really nice to catch up with an old friend who hasn’t changed a bit. I really miss that kid and am glad we can still sit down and have a good dinner together. We both got hit on by a couple 16 year-old EFY girls which made the night absolutely <u>priceless</u>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs336.ash1/28948_10150209453880392_746100391_13055610_5124610_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs336.ash1/28948_10150209453880392_746100391_13055610_5124610_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Later that night, Lynds and I went for a bowling rematch and had a pleasant surprise to see the Hutchisons there playing as well; they were picking up Weston and then on their way to visit Kels. Anyway, Lyndsey won one, and I won one even though I totally should’ve won <b>both</b> because I would’ve creamed her if it weren’t for my bum leg haha. So our score is now two and two which needs to be settled before I leave on the mish.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs336.ash1/28948_10150209453900392_746100391_13055612_6340938_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs336.ash1/28948_10150209453900392_746100391_13055612_6340938_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Afterwards, we headed to this little group date at <i>the Green Room</i> and met up with Blake & Alex, Bowman & Kristen, and Addison & Haley (some of those names have the potential of being incorrectly spelled, my apologies). It was a pretty sick place, even though half the things were broken/stolen. We got some pretty good games going, not to mention probably the most retarded game of pictionary I’ve ever played (<i>couch on wheels</i> <i>brown</i> for clues?). Then after all the excitement, we watched Hitch and headed back for a really late night. Got back and chatted with Chan and Addison until nearly four in the morning; looks like getting up early the next day was definitely <b>not</b> going to happen.<br />
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I figured that my body’s internal clock would wake me up pretty early the next day so I could get some stuff done but that for sure did <u>not</u> happen. Planned on getting up around eight to take a test but got up at 10:30am, of course. We originally planned on leave to Salt Lake at 11:00am so I got out of bed because neither Chan or Adds were awake yet so I had to play mom and wake everyone. I called Addison a billion times but he didn’t get up so I waddled to his room and woke him up. I nearly cussed the crap out of him when he wouldn’t get out of bed and decided he could just call me on my phone instead haha. Anyway we all got up, had lunch at the canc, and made our way to Salt Lake for the day. Chan had to do some community service at the food bank and Addison needed to do some work in the family history center; I told Chandler the week before that I’d help him and do whatever service work he decided to do with him. Unfortunately, we made it way too late and ended up spending the day at temple square instead. That probably could have been one of the <b>best</b> decisions I made all year. We spent the day talking to sister missionaries left and right and hitting up all the tourists spots at temple square. It was probably one of the most spiritual experiences I’ve ever had and I’m really glad that we had the chance to go. A few hours later we met up with Addison, went to Chipotle for dinner, and then went home. Adds wasn’t feeling well so he hit the hay for the night and I stayed up, made chocolate and coconut covered strawberries with Lyndsey for my Sunday school class, cleaned our room, and got my lesson prepared for the next day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs526.ash1/30925_1343781792389_1166562878_30817182_223196_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs526.ash1/30925_1343781792389_1166562878_30817182_223196_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I woke up to a nice note from the Chandler the next morning which really set the tone for the rest of the day. Church was great and my lesson went really well. It was basically on love; here’s one of the videos I showed - probably the best message that could ever be given.<br />
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I’m going to miss teaching that class <b>a lot</b>; the strawberries were a hit too. After church, I was locked out of the room so I went and filled in Addison with all the details of the meetings for the day since he was sick and couldn’t make it to church. We talked for a bit and then I went down to the canc for lunch and laid down for my Sunday nap.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs527.snc3/29958_10150210159525392_746100391_13083974_3510332_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs527.snc3/29958_10150210159525392_746100391_13083974_3510332_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Later on that night, Adds and I made our way over to condo-row for Megan’s birthday and endured a strange dinner full of RM’s and apartment roomies. Needless to say, we were a <i>bit</i> out of place and it was even more strange that another one of the guys there was named Eric as well. Funny that it annoyed Addison just as much as it annoyed me. Not even fifteen minutes into the night and we both agreed that I needed to change my name. Anyway, food was great; Becca did a <u>great</u> job with the BBQ Chicken pizza and no-bake cake. Not to mention Addison and I made a killer card for Megan haha. It’s definitely our <i>little forte</i>. Afterwards we played a couple rounds of catchphrase and then headed out a lot later than planned. Apparently Adds was giving me signs to leave but I missed every single one of them haha, the night wasn’t over just yet though. Lynds came over and we watched the rest of the game in Addison’s room. Then I killed a couple hours talking to Marshall and Burbidge about random high school stuff. By the time that was all done it was nearly 11:00pm and when Chan and I realized that, we <i>nearly </i>started to slit our wrists. We still had<b> so </b>much work to do. It only took a matter of minutes for us to become completely hysterical haha. I crawled under my desk and Chandler hid under his blanket. I told Chan to text Addison and tell him that he needed to take us to the hospital, but I didn’t know he would take that literally haha. He busted through the door and was just like....<i> “Uh... are you guys alright?”</i> haha.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs527.snc3/29958_10150210159530392_746100391_13083975_4485818_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs527.snc3/29958_10150210159530392_746100391_13083975_4485818_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We explained our frustrations and the three of us decided to pull a <b>super all-nighter</b>. Chan grabbed some energy drinks and the party began. Did we get much work done? <i>Nah.</i> We stayed up talking on the phone, watching youtube videos, had a shower party at 4:00am and somewhere in between all that, got work done haha. Chandler was going absolutely insane about halfway through the night which was pretty hilarious. At about 6:00am, we all hit the hay and struggled through the next day. <br />
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I got up and mozied over to my last day of basketball and then made it back to the room and made sure everyone was up. We all frantically got our stuff together and made it to our respective 10:00am classes and journeyed through the rest of the day. After weight training, me and Adds “studied” (comprised of facebook and naptime) for an hour and then headed over to the testing center. Afterwards, both Addison and Chandler went to bed (yeah, at like 7:00pm) but I was still wide awake, so I went out to dinner with Tori to Pizza Pie Cafe. It’s like a ghetto version of CiCi’s Pizza but still <b>very</b> good. We had a great dinner though. It’s funny how sometimes some of the best things that happen to you happen in the most <b>untimely</b> matter. I guess that’s just the humor of life and a truth that all (or should I say most?) good<i> (and bad) </i>things must come to end. We got back around 11:00pm and it was my turn to crash.<br />
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Tuesday was a reading day. I got up to see if Addison wanted to grab breakfast but he had a review at 9:00am... and<b> I had forgotten that I had one at 9:00am too</b> (Am I retarded? Don't answer that question). Naturally, it took me <b>forever </b>to get ready so I got there around 10:15am despite the fact that the review was schedule to end at 10:30am. Good thing there were two more that day. I killed an hour doing the New Testament final and ran into Dallin, one of the guys with the Neuroscience program who has been hassling me to switch my major the whole year. He’s a good guy though and although I haven’t changed, I’ll still consider it in the future. Chan, Lynds, and I went back to the skyroom for round two of attempting to kill Lyndsey’s card. We had a pleasant surprise of seeing Haley and Addison there as well. Of course we stayed <i>way</i> too long and I missed my second review at 1:00pm so I just went into the library and “studied” (comprised of taking a nap) until my next review at 3:00pm. Luckily, I made it to that review on time and then went back to the dorms to join Lynds and Chan for a nap outside on Helaman fields. After resting for a bit, we managed to miss all the camp kids for dinner and the parted for a bit before ward prayer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs281.ash1/20848_10150212245910392_746100391_13143559_3702653_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs281.ash1/20848_10150212245910392_746100391_13143559_3702653_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Shelly (using my computer) put together and <b>awesome</b> slideshow for ward prayer which was coupled with an awesome Martinelli’s fight. The only thing we were missing was the prayer haha.<br />
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Anyway we stayed out talking for a bit and then I bonded with Shelly and headed back to my room since apparently the library wasn’t open late for finals. I got back expecting to find Chan in the room... but didn’t. So Adds came down and we contemplated what he could’ve been doing. I mean, I knew that he went out for a walk <i>with Lyndsey</i> a few hours ago but that was it. <br />
<blockquote>“You don’t think...”<br />
“No way dude, I’m a visual person and when you said that, <b>no </b>image came into my head.”</blockquote>Well Chandler made it back from his “walk” (comprised of Wendy’s and a literal “walk” I guess haha) and went to bed while me and Adds stayed up watching youtube videos of Dane Cook and he informed me about his unproductive day. I of course, had no room to talk either.<br />
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My last day in Helaman was just a bunch of finals on top of finals. My first was at 7:00am (gag me) which was <b>so</b> hard to get up for since Addison and I were up until 3:00am the night before. Well I barely made it, and got that out of the way. I had breakfast with Cameron and then went to procrastinate studying for PDBIO in my room for awhile by leaving everyone crazy-stupid videos on people's walls. I eventually made it to the library to study for one last time, had lunch with Lynds at the skyroom, and then ventured over to go take my last test. Unfortunately, that one didn’t go too hot. I might as well have<b> not</b> studied for it whatsoever because it wasn’t a content test, it was all <i>experimental analysis</i>. It’s whatever though, it’s all over now. I tried to get a hold of Addison but he was equally ticked off about all his exams and just wanted to be alone.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs068.ash2/36741_10150213092050392_746100391_13167103_1196598_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs068.ash2/36741_10150213092050392_746100391_13167103_1196598_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So I went back on campus to sell back my books and made it back in time to have one last canc dinner with Spencer and Natalie. Kinda sad, but relieved at the same time. I’ll miss that place for sure. Afterwards, Spencer taught me how crack a whip which was tricky to begin with, but so addictive when I finally got the hang of it.<br />
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Of course I stayed there for too long and ended up being late for one last appointment with the Bishop and then made it back in time for Shelly’s mission call opening. I’ll let the video jerk some tears for you. I'm so excited for her, she's going to be so awesome out there.<br />
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I planned on having a <b>great </b>night for my last night in college, but I was so pooped that I just didn’t care. We went to IHOP for one last time and decided to wait all night to see the sunrise at Squaw Peak, but I ended up just crashing while Lynds <i>and</i> Chan stayed out for the night. I woke up at 6:00am, met back up with them for a round of Crispy Cream, and then we came back to Helaman so they could sleep. Well, my parents were on their way, so I went to go figure when Addison would be back from the airport with Hayley so we could figure lunch, and then I went out to breakfast with Alyssa at Magleby’s.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs221.snc3/20848_10150212241675392_746100391_13143374_6480971_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs221.snc3/20848_10150212241675392_746100391_13143374_6480971_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was great to catch up with her as she told me all about her semester at BYU Hawaii. On our way out we got a couple old ladies to take our picture and they thought we were just the <i>cutest</i> couple haha. Oh, gotta love old people. I made it back and procrastinated packing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs148.snc4/36741_10150213092355392_746100391_13167106_4239430_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs148.snc4/36741_10150213092355392_746100391_13167106_4239430_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Went for a walk and said goodbye to Tori. We made it all the way around Helaman as I blabbed and blabbed about all the memories I had there. And then, well, we said our long goodbye. That’s when it really started to sink in to me; for a lot of my friends, today was goodbye, goodbye for a really, <b>really</b> long time. It’s weird to think my last day of this year had finally come for me to leave Helaman... forever. Ok, let’s not be<b> too</b> dramatic now haha, but still, it was a <u>big</u> deal. Finally my parents made it around noon and started to tear up my room.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs128.snc4/36741_10150213092375392_746100391_13167109_8296047_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs128.snc4/36741_10150213092375392_746100391_13167109_8296047_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>About halfway through the afternoon, my parents took me, Chan, and Addison out for lunch at Olive Garden, and then we resumed packing. When we got back I ran (yeah, with my knee immobilizer) to go say bye to Burbidge and than made it back to my room. It really didn’t take long and it was <b>really</b> depressing to do. Somewhere amidst the chaos I managed to say bye to Shelly and Michael. Finally it was time for check out and the rest of my goodbyes. I took a shower and headed over to Hinckley to say bye to Remington and Victoria and made it back to Budge to say bye to the guys. I went down the hall basically and knocked on every door to say bye.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs068.ash2/36741_10150213092385392_746100391_13167110_5956822_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs068.ash2/36741_10150213092385392_746100391_13167110_5956822_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Finally, Addison came down and we said our goodbyes. That one was probably the hardest, but the easiest at the same time. The hard part wasn't saying goodbye to the friendship, but just having that company around. We spent <b>so</b> much time together this semester (<i>that being my fault</i>) and it was going to be really hard not having a pal to be around all the time now. Aside of Mat a few years back, I never really had a best friend growing up or in college for that matter. I always wanted to have a partner in crime or someone that was expected to be spotted with me. I don't want to get all emotional and lovey-dovey on a blog but having Addison around fit that for me and it was definitely hard to leave that behind. But at the same time, I know that we'll stay tight and that I'm going to see him next week in California anyway so it really wasn't that bad. I’ve just <b>never</b> been good at goodbyes; I always get teary-eyed and emotional. this semester was really hard because I got close to so many people so fast and then it was just over. Anyway, we made it outside, took a couple pictures, and that... was it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieKU54sIGhK9iHRP_d9cRSa2nAleWSsFUoaMHfSE_HwfkKpJTNFjcMDpEf328Nm4TyQKzdzHvkV9cCwEZAi8fJ1PZaHwUxupfTdBqVuxiHRHaEJ63RxJKdBLzhElgPg5PRDv2rbhxDbc/s1600/IMG_2103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieKU54sIGhK9iHRP_d9cRSa2nAleWSsFUoaMHfSE_HwfkKpJTNFjcMDpEf328Nm4TyQKzdzHvkV9cCwEZAi8fJ1PZaHwUxupfTdBqVuxiHRHaEJ63RxJKdBLzhElgPg5PRDv2rbhxDbc/s320/IMG_2103.JPG" /></a></div>Now, I’m sitting in Hawaii (I’ll blog about this vacation some other time lol) nearly a week later. It seems <b>so</b> surreal. My first year of college is over. I still can’t even believe that it all happened. Looking back at pictures and seeing what great times I had and all the friends I made, all I really can do is smile. I could cry; I could cry <b>a lot</b>. The best year I had ever lived was <u>over.</u> But crying doesn’t do anything and won’t bring back those memories. If anything it just makes my nose stuffy and gives me a headache.<br />
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This year has taught me so many great things. Although I’ve had some rough times and made some bad decisions, the good things always seem to out weigh those issues. It’s been hard letting go, but that just means that the experience was worth my time.<br />
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Life is ever changing. Experiences can’t be repeated but memories can be replayed. What’s most important to realize, that I’ve found out from the past week, is that dwelling on the past, doesn’t bring the past back. It happened. It’s <i>never</i> coming back. And as much as you want to cling to the moments that matter most, you’re better off focusing to make greater moments happen in the future. Although sometimes goodbyes are hard, they are never permanent. I know we’ll all be back at BYU sometime soon and we will rock that school just as hard as we did this year. It will be different, but different is good. It adds essence to life. Sometimes you can’t help the tears, especially when you’re leaving your best friends behind, but don’t drown yourself in them. After all, this isn’t the end. This is not where our stories end.<br />
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I’ve made the <b>best </b>friendships over the past eight weeks and I know that I’ll come back to them when I get back. As for now, it’s time to live it up. Hawaii has been great so far, and I’ll be with some great friends next week in California. And of course, I have the handful of kids back home that I’m dying to see. So although it’s been the end to one great chapter, more new great experiences, <i>I know</i>, are on their way. And by great, I’m not just talking about good ones, but <b>bad ones too</b>. That’s okay though.<br />
<u>I’m ready.</u> I’m ready because all the great people I’ve met this past year, <i>from church leaders to great friends like Addison</i>, <u><b>made me ready. </b></u><br />
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<i>As for now</i>, I’m just going to smile<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><b>because it happened.</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvcCx_oY7HEzw_O6J0cfAAMlGEeGK9a67acaRNitHTnxrhanZLVWftTz23dmRabE-BddU5E0z0jDyMOSsvWwWb_YOuaCjZfTiCL-okuScRGemQqRCtmSnFaUB3JWq7osi9wDtPGPNLoQ/s1600/IMG_2109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvcCx_oY7HEzw_O6J0cfAAMlGEeGK9a67acaRNitHTnxrhanZLVWftTz23dmRabE-BddU5E0z0jDyMOSsvWwWb_YOuaCjZfTiCL-okuScRGemQqRCtmSnFaUB3JWq7osi9wDtPGPNLoQ/s320/IMG_2109.JPG" /></a></div></div>Eric Ray Corpuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333701037701304735noreply@blogger.com0