I am getting really excited for the upcoming NBA season, as you can tell from the pumpkin I carved.  I think its going to be an exciting season for the NBA and a good run for the Jazz. I predict they will go 54-28 and lose in the second round of the playoffs.  They will finish 4th in the west behind LA, Denver, and San Antonio.

What a Blessing!

I turn 23 years old in 23 days.  That is 7 years past the day most people get there drivers license.  With a combination of my parents not letting me and my bad eyesight I couldn’t get my license when I turned 16.  For the past 7 years I have had to rely on somebody to help me get everywhere I needed and wanted to go.  I am grateful for all the times everyone has driven me  around.  Well those days are almost over and the way I live my life is about to change in a drastic way. 

Today I had an eye exam, so that I could get a doctors note to give to the Drivers License Division to take the permit and license tests.  I had the same eye exam done a year ago, but my eyes weren’t good enough to get a full license.  If I would of got my license a year ago I would have had 2 restrictions on it.  I wouldn’t  have of been able to drive at night and I wouldn’t have be able to drive on roads past 40 mph.  Even though that would have been a blessing, it wouldn’t of made that much of difference in my lifestyle.  I wouldn’t of been able to even leave Tooele County.

As we were on our way to the eye doctor I said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father if he would help me pass the tests so that I could get a full non-restricted license.  I took the tests with the nurse (You know the test with the big E) and I felt like I could see them a bit better then last year, but not much.  Well when the Eye Doctor came in and sat down he said.  “Mark either you cheated on the test or your eyes have gotten better, because you have good enough vision to get a full non-restricted license.”  Thank you God!!

What a blessing this is going to be in my life!  This is going to be huge lifestyle change for me.  As I looked into the future I wanted to be able to drive for part of the family vacation, or I wanted to help my wife get the kids to where they needed to go, I didn’t want this to hold me back from getting a better job, I wanted to be able to run errands and not put that Burdon completely on somebody else, and so on and so on.   What a blessing for me especially right now in my life.  I will be able to go where I need to go.  It will be a lot easier for me to date, to get a good job, to get to college, ect….  I don’t think most people realize what a blessing it is to be able to drive.

Life is like a dream

I woke up this morning thinking about how fast the past eight years have gone since September 11, 2001. Life really passes away like a dream. One moment your here and the next moment your somewhere else. For me one moment I was in high school, the next I was on my mission, and then boom, now I’m half way done with college and living at home in between semesters. I also can't believe the experiences I've had that have definitely made me realize that I can't go through life without the knowledge that I have that God lives and has a plan for me.

One thing I wish I would of done is wrote in my journal about September 11, 2001 on that day or sometime there after. The funny thing is that I haven’t forgotten any of it. That day is engraved in my head like it wasn’t a dream. One thing I realized this morning is that life does feel like a dream, but special, tragic, and funny moments don’t.

The things I remember most are the things that have had the most impact on me. Most of them have to do with spiritual things like when I was baptized, or when I received the priesthood, or when I went through the temple for the first time, or when I received my mission call and returned home to see my family for the first time in 2 years. Another one of those things will be when I am sealed to someone special for time and all eternity, or when I have kids, or when I see my kids have these same special experiences.

We need to live everyday like its not a dream. Don’t just let it pass by and say there is always tomorrow, because there may not be a tomorrow as those on September 11 found out. Make an impact today. Improve yourself today. Get the most out of today. That’s what I’m trying to do. Its hard when we face challenges or our day isn’t going as planned, but its only hard unless we put our trust in God. God will help us become the person we need to be everyday if put in our best effort and have faith in him. Life doesn’t have to pass away like a dream.

I am going to write that journal entry that I wish I would of. This is how I remembered it.

September 11, 2001-Tuesday,

Today has been a tragic day. A day I will never forget. I woke up this morning and found myself on the school bus listening to the radio that flows throughout the bus at a low volume. All the sudden the music was interrupted with breaking news. As this came on the bus driver turned the volume up. We heard a frantic report “a plane has hit one of the world trade center buildings in lower Manhattan.” As we made our way to school we listened intently as they talked about how it could be a terrorist attack or just an accident. As they were talking and as the other building was up in smoke another plane hit the other tower. The news reporter was freaking out with fear in his voice. I honestly didn’t know what to think, but I was very sad inside. I didn’t know what would happen next. It was a very emotional day for me.

I thought to myself what else could be worse today. I walked into my geography class and the teacher said were just going to watch the news for class today. The whole class was silent and stunned. As we watched the video over and over again of the two buildings collapsing they came on split screen with a report that the pentagon has just been hit by a plane and later that a plane has crashed in Pennsylvania. At this time I really just wanted to go home and be with my family.

Another moment that really stuck out to me today was in seminary. We didn’t go to our separate classes, but we all met in the large room to watch the news. In fact that’s all I did today is watch the news. While we were all watching the news these two guys starting making fun of this other kid and the kid started yelling back. Then one of the kids that was making fun of him started swearing at him and taunted him. He wanted to fight him right there. I thought to myself why are these guys doing this when such a tragic event is taking place.

The rest of the day I stayed at home and watched the news with my family. I kept asking myself is this the end, what’s going to happen next. One thing that I did realize today is how grateful I am to know God and to be apart of his church. Everything will work out the way it is suppose to and I know that God will always be there for me.

Gotta Love Easter

Wow, this easter Sunday was incredible!  We have this tradition in our family where all the kids have to be awake and in the hallway that enters into the family room in order to see what the easter bunny brought!  If one kid isn't there then the rest can't go.  I woke up to the noise of my sisters and mom "Come on Mark, everyone is awake and your holding us up."  I replied with "Do it without me, I'm tired and I want to have energy for church."  They all replied "We can't do it without you."  So I finally got up and boy I'm glad I did.

With the morning sun shining through the window my sisters and I walked speedily into the family room to find the best easter present we've ever received.  In separate piles scattered throughout the room was an easter basket full of candy and different framed pictures of the Savior Jesus Christ painted by the likes of  Greg Olson and Simon Dewey.

My Mom pointed to my pile and said "that one is yours Mark"  and so on until we were all sitting by our different pictures.  Each picture was carefully selected for each child.  My Mom and Dad chose each one that reminded them of us individually.

With tear-filled eyes my Mom went around the room and explained why she got each picture for each child.  As she bore her testimony to each child about each picture she selected, I couldn't stop thinking about and feeling how much she loves us and wants us to come the Savior.  She joyfully explained how happy she was for each one of us and the decisions we are making.  What a powerful moment it was when she got to me.  I couldn't keep my eyes dry as she explained "I selected the picture of Christ gathering his sheep, because I know how much your mission means to you.  I am so proud of you for brining some of Heavenly Fathers sheep into his fold." 

I will never forget the feelings of joy and sweet peace the Savior brought into my soul through my Moms vibrant testimony.  This was the most meaningful Easter, because it was all about the Savior and his Atonement.  What a blessing it is to have a Mother and Father who know and who care.  

The Savior Lives.  I testify that in the Garden of Gethsemane he suffered and bled from every pore to take upon him the pains, sicknesses, sins, weaknesses, and anything that is imperfect with each of us, so that we don't have too.   He will succor or run unto us if we but have faith and believe that he can take away our pains.  He died painfully on the cross and gave the perfect example of forgiveness as he cried Father forgive them for they know not what they do.  I testify that three days later he rose from the dead and overcame death for all of mankind.  He completed the infinite Atonement to save each and every last soul.  I love him and know I have personally felt his saving and empowering grace in my life.  I know he appeared with Heavenly Father to Joseph Smith to open the last dispensation and restore his church upon the earth.  Joseph Smith was indeed the first Prophet!  He brought forth the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God.  We learn more about the Saviors Atoning Sacrifice through this book then by any other book.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.  It is led by a true Prophet today even President Thomas S. Monson.  

Little Creeper

This morning I was walking to the Taylor building to turn in my Book of Mormon portfolio. With a smile on my face because of the beautiful weather and peace in my soul because of almost being done with school I made my way across the street and by the engineering building, which is about 200 feet from the Taylor.

I glanced over and looked at something that caught my attention on the building. As I turned my head back toward the sidewalk to see where I was walking I saw out of the corner of my eye a little animal coming closer and closer to my feet. My first thought was "its just a friendly cat, because cats aren't too scared of humans." It definitely wasn't a cat, it was a stinking squirrel. I jumped back as this tiny little pest scared the living crap out of me. The peace that once was in my soul turned into fear.

Why was I so scared of a squirrel? The reason I think I was so scared once it clicked that it was a squirrel is because they usually run when a human gets close to them and squirrels can jump really high. The thought ran across my mind "would if it jumps up towards my face with those sharp claws." Another reason I was so scared is because I had tried so many times at scout camp as a young boy to catch one and never came close. The dang things are pesky and quick. Lesson of the day: Watch out for squirrels, they love to pull pranks and scare people.

I felt like an old crippled Grandma today

I went to the doctor today to get my tailbone and wrist x-rayed. It took forever. It turned out good and the results were positive. My tailbone and wrist are only bruised. They told me it would take four weeks to heal. I sure hope it heals in four days, cause its warming up and I want to get out and do those summer fun things like football, biking, soccer, running, ect.

This morning it took me thirty five minutes to get to my class when it usually in the past at full health only took me ten minutes. I was walking up by the library and ran into the first person I know. She said "are you OK, cause your walking kind of funny?" I explained what happened and went on my way. A little while later I ran into my roommate Ben who knew I was in pain. We laughed from how weird I was walking. We didn't talk long because I needed to get to class. When I was walking away Ben said "good luck turtle boy!" When I got to class it took me a lot longer to sit down and everyone around me asked the same question. I explained and got prepared for class. One of the girls that was sitting around me saw it happen and said "that looks like it hurt." I got a lot of weird looks today. I really felt like I am handicapped.

So after class I went to the bookstore to get some Ibuprofen. I put it on the counter and the girl asked "are you doing alright?" I explained and she told me her friend broke his tailbone and it took two years to heal properly. It kind of scared me.

I luckily saw one of my teammates in the MC and he offered to give me a ride to the health center. When I went to get in his car I was about to ask "could you lift me into the car" like someone would with a person in a wheelchair. It took me forever to get in the car. I really felt like a crippled old Grandma!

Thank goodness for Ibuprofen! I at least now feel like a 22 year old that got injured and not a crippled old Grandma!

LIFE IS GOOD!

I may have broke my tailbone today, crap!

Tonight my basketball team was in the quarterfinals of the BYU Idaho competitive league tournament! We had a really good team and a good shot to win it all, but we lost and were out now. It is a big disappointment that we lost, but an even bigger bummer that I may have broke my tailbone.

There was 1:00 left in the game and we were down by six. I had the ball at the three point line and saw an opening to the basket! I took it! The defender was close so I crossed him over, blew by him and took it to the basket. I was wide open and jumped as high as I could to lay it in. My fingers were about as high as the rim. As I laid it in a player on the other team undercut me or as most people call it he cheap-shoted me. He took out my legs and from about five feet in the air I landed straight on my tailbone, and luckily not my back or my neck. My teammates said my whole body was shaking for five minutes. I was laying on my stomach screaming in agony. AHHHH! AHHHH! AHHHH! Over and over again. At least I made the basket and brought my team within four. I couldn't shoot the foul shot, so coach put someone else in. He hit it and brought us within three and thats what we lost by. It was so hard laying on the sideline by our bench, knowing if i didn't get injured I could of been our there with my team trying to come back and win.

It was funny the person that brought me a bag full of ice asked "Where do you want me to put this? I turned over and laid on my stomach and said "put it on my butt." Everyone was laughing, but I wasn't cause I was in pain. It was a funny sight though.

Just remember when your around please don't slap my butt or tackle me or throw things at my butt, Ect. If you do beware... because I will hurt you and it wont be pretty!

Way to go!

Hello! I LOVE YOU! A shout out to my girls JV team that I coach, for winning today and advancing to the Championship game this Saturday! Go Lady Thunder!

We live in the land of opportunity!

For FHE tonight we went to a member of the high counselors house in Idaho Falls! They talked about how they visited there sons mission at the end. There son served in the Dominican Republic. The DR is a third world country! They said that they were in the DR for a week and he got a parasite. One week! Thats crazy! He said the people down there are so poor, but so happy and humble! He said that our laundry room would be a mansion to them! For a moment I felt really sad for these people, but then I thought there happy and they probably wouldn't want it any other way.

I am so blessed to live in America and even more blessed to live in Utah and even more more blessed to have the gospel living in Utah! I have an amazing family and especially amazing parents who have always provided me with the best. I have basically lived a life of luxury compared to the people in the DR. We live in the land of opportunity! Our opportunities are endless. I guess I realized more today then I ever have that it is my choice on how I'm going to treat this opportunity of life in America!

I learned last week at a business summit that we will fail in todays market if we have the attitude of entitlement. We can never feel that we are entitled to anything. We need to have the attitude that everything is an opportunity and I'm going to make the most out of it! We need to work for everything! Most things will not be handed to us!

I'm very excited and optimistic about the future! I know that if I chose to have the attitude of opportunity I will not fail! It is a great opportunity right now in my life to be at BYU-Idaho! Am I going to act like I'm entitled to get educated or am I going to make the most of it cause I know it's a great opportunity? I hope I will make the most of it and I hope you will too!

I'm a terrible bracketoligist!

So, March Madness comes around every year and that means bracket time! Some people feel out like 50 brackets hoping to get one with most of the picks correct. This year I filled out 3 and for all of them I am apart of a group. I love March Madness, but I hate the bracket! In every group I am in last place! I heard somewhere that you have a 9,000,000,000 in 1 shot of getting a perfect bracket. I'm not even going to set that as one of my goals in life because I am a horrible bracketoligist! A Bracketoligist is someone who knows every team and the streangths of every team and who matches up well with who and they usually have an almost perfect bracket. I will never have an almost perfect bracket, because I am not a bracketoligist!

Why do I hate losing & why am I so good at winning?

I have this new goal to right on my blog everyday! Lets see how I do! There is this girl that has a blog too and she also set it as a goal to write on her blog everyday. I want to beat her and prove that I'm the blog-a-champ, so basically its now a competition.

I've been winning at a lot of different things lately! That may sound cocky, but i don't care. I really don't feel like I'm boasting, but just counting my many talents. Talents are blessings! I am really good at board games or at least I think its one of my many talents. When we were at our cabin over new years I won Settlers of Catan 12 times, which is like 8 times more then the next competitor. Oh and by the way the Baughs were there and they're probably the most talented board game family. Just saying I did really well!

Then there was tonight! I won again, but this time we played Take it to Ride-German Edition! I scored a whopping 140 points. I was really proud of my strategic skills! This is a game of intense strategy and you have to be quick with your mind. I certainly was tonight!

Oh and the other night my church ball team won the championship in coed basketball.

OK, so you can't win everything!

I coach a girls basketball team and we played today in the first round of the tournament. We played a team that beat us by 35 the first time and 7 the second time. Going into this game we knew we had a shot to win, but we blew it. We lost again. It was frustrating! We played so well and I'm so proud of my girls

.

Why is losing so hard? Why do I want to win at everything I do?

I think one word answers both of those questions! I'm competitive! Oh wait thats two words.

My competitive nature came at an early age. I'm a twin and my twin sister Megan is also very competitive! We were always competing in everything we did! Which I think is a good thing, because it made us both better at what we were doing! My dad is also very competitive, especially when were at the table, the ping pong table that is!

Well I'm just rambling on aren't I? This is kind of fun! Not!

JK I do actually kind of like this!

The touch of a child!

I've thought a lot about an experience I had a few months ago. I was living at home with my family in Utah. I decided not to attend the singles ward, but to stay in my families ward. I was called to be the primary teacher of the 9 year old group.

They were an amazing group of kids. Cade was the class clown that hardily ever paid attention. The few times he did I would ask him a question. I was amazed by his intelligent responses. Then there was Madisen and Mckel and they were both very smart and very spiritual. They knew the answer to everything and they were the ones that wanted to say every prayer. They goofed around a lot with each other and they are both very confident with who they are. Then there is Alyssa and Hunter who were both very shy and wanted to take part in everything that Madisen and Mckel did. They are both really special people.

Then there is Shyan. Shyan has a lot of physical elements. I actually don't remember exactly what she has, but she has to use a walker to get around. She is behind a bit in her growing up compared to the other kids in the class. Shyan always had a comment for everything and most of the time it was way off subject from what we were talking about. A lot of the time she talked about horses.

This one particular Sunday I was having a very difficult time. I just couldn't find a way to be happy. I was very down and sad. With primary music playing, I was sitting next to my Dad in opening excersizes when Shyan walked in. She slowly made her way past the row of three year olds and then 4 year olds and then 5 year olds and then 6 year olds, and then 7 and so on until she made it to our row. When she made it to our row she sat down right next to me. She threw her walker/crutches to the side.

The next thing that happened is the experience that I have been pondering upon a lot. As I was sitting there with my head down moaning and groaning inside Shyan put her arm around me and her head on my upper arm and gave me a big hug. It was the touch of a pure and christlike child. I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness and peace.

I feel like it was the Savior that was putting his arms around me through this little girl that can barely walk. The Lord works through those that are weak and simple! He does so because they will listen. I'm sure that Shyan was intune and she probably heard something like give Mark a hug. When she heard it she immediately did it. The touch of a child brought me peace and joy and I was able to feel the Saviors love.