Hellos and Goodbyes

Yesterday I attended some mission "farewells" (I know that's not the politically correct term; or religiously correct term for that matter... but that's really what they are. Am I right?) of some good friends of mine. It was kinda sad, because I realized I wouldn't be able to talk to, or see these people for 2 years! And who knows what could happen in those 2 years?? People change; especially people like me that are my age... And I thought to myself, "will the relationship I have with these people be the same after they come home?" The answer- probably not. Why? It's the same reason you're no longer best friends with the people you were best friends with in high school. Sure, the loss of contact is one thing, but like I said, people change, and it turns out that you're closest to the people that you talk to the most; it's a fact. So no matter how you try, things never stay the same forever... So basically the point I was trying to make, was that it was sad. But ironically, these "farewells" (that are meant to say 'goodbye') also allowed me and all the other people that were there to say 'hello' :) Long lost friends (aka people that I waved at in the hallway) that I was able to reacquaint myself with. So that was nice; knowing that they still knew who I was, and surprised that some of them actually knew where I was going to school!

This past weekend I also had to say goodbye to a dear friend of mine; Kevin. He was so good to me. Got me to places that I wouldn't have been able to get to otherwise. He struggled, quite a bit actually, but he was so faithful and lucky for me, even though his time was due at any time, he never let me down. I do need to ask for his forgiveness though, since I didn't take care of him as much as I should have. And the one time that I let him go dead, because I left his lights on... Sorry again Kevin... But he was a trooper and got me through those  tough times when I was just a wee lad and didn't have a clue what it meant to be responsible. Well on Saturday, poor Kevin was replaced... by a younger, prettier, and more reliable car...

 Dear Kevin,
I'm sorry, but we all know that you wouldn't be able to make it the 250 miles up to Rexburg... and since I don't know a thing about cars, and wouldn't have the slightest clue what to do if you died in the middle of Idaho... So it's for your own good... Lucky for you though, my dad has decided to give you pity and renew your registration, and take you to work with him (shhh, don't tell Kevin, but it's only because he gets better gas than the Expedition...) and then hopefully you'll be able to stick it out until we can find you a new owner.... So long Kevin, I will miss your sun spots, and how you would rattle your engine when we would stall at a stoplight. I will miss the cute little sticker I put on the dashboard, so I would remember to turn off your lights. I will miss those long mornings in the dead of winter, when I would scrap the ice off your window. I will cherish those memories for years to come. Thanks Kevin, it was nice knowing you :)

Kevin (named after the bird in "UP") 

Along with the 'goodbye' I said to Kevin, I said 'hello' to a new special someone who I hope will be as good to me as Kevin was. This new friend of mine is who is going to take me to college, and hopefully treat me as well, if not better, as Kevin did. His name is Dug. He seems to have a good little engine, and will hopefully prove to be a good investment (even though he was more my parent's investment than mine...).

Dear Dug, 

I know you've been a part of the family for awhile now, and I hate to break it to you, but along with Kevin, you've also been replaced. But lucky for you, you get to leave this wonderful town of West Jordan and come up to Rexburg with me! :) It'll be fun, I promise. Don't worry, we'll come back and visit. Often :) So whada-ya say? Will you leave the warmth of the garage and come with me to the not-so-bustling town of Rexburg  with me? (shhh don't tell him that Rexburg is a little more than not-so-warm... I'm still trying to figure out how to break it to him...).

Dug (named after the dog on "UP") 

So the past few days, and weeks to come I will be saying a lot of 'hellos' and 'goodbyes.' But I know that they're for the best and all this change that I'll be experiencing will be good :)

BYU Education Week

My mom and I went down to Provo this week to attend BYU Education Week. I don't really know why they call it education week. I, personally, think that they should call it Inspiration week, but who am I to tell them what they should call it? It was probably inspired by God anyway, so I guess I shouldn't be fighting what God wants... Well anyway, I learned SOOO much, I mean, I guess it was stuff I already knew, but it was nice to clear out some of the fog. I was so uplifted spiritually and my testimony was strengthened in areas that I didn't really have much of a testimony on in the first place; it's nice to expand your testimony to new horizons every once in awhile :) I wish I could just pour on you everything that I learned, but since I can't do that all in one blog post, I'll give you a little snip-it of a quote that came from my last and favorite class we attended. It was titled "I've Got Questions About...! Finding answers in the Doctrines of the Gospel," with Friday's topic being "Teachings on Hope: How God Judges." The speaker was Jack S. Marshall (amazing guy by the way).
Here's a quote that he shared with us-

" Sometimes all that can be done is to endure, to hang on, to do one's best amid tears and turmoil and to struggle each day just to survive." Alexander Morrison

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm kind of picky when it comes to chocolate chip cookies. I love them, yet it's taken me a long time to find a recipe that I absolutely love. It seems whenever I make them, they go flat and turn stale after a few days... Maybe I'm just a bad cook... Well I finally found what I've been searching for all these years. A chocolate chip cookie recipe that I absolutely ADORE! And you all should feel special, because I'm going to share it with you! :) I got it last semester when my roommate, Grace made them. You know what makes these cookies stand out among all other chocolate chip cookies you've ever had?? The secret ingredient; ICE CREAM!!! I'm not usually a big fan of ice cream, especially vanilla. I'm more of a cookie and brownie person, but this will now be my reason for buying it :) Try them and tell me, are they not the best chocolate chip cookies you've ever had?

To get the recipe, complete with pictures and everything go here :)

Insights

Neal A. Maxwell

This man is amazing. He is so straightforward in declaring and identifying the truth that we all need in our lives. Although he passed away in 2004, the things he taught years ago apply even today. I'm learning so much from him. And even just from his picture, I know that he truly cared for each and every one of us; remarkable example. This was a talk I found today that was given by him. It's called "Insights" (just from that title, you know it's gonna be good). Here's an apostle of the Lord giving us key information that the Lord wants us to know. Interestingly enough though, I found that many of the "insights" Elder Maxwell had were things that I should've already known, but like many of the principles of this gospel, we all need a little reminder every once in awhile. He talked mainly about how the Lord blesses us so much with so many things, and we need to reciprocate by being patient and understanding that all things will come to our knowledge slowly, but surely. I can't really summarize his talk without just quoting it word for word... So I'd definitely recommend reading it when you have some down time, or are in some need of spiritual guidance, but I'll give you a little sneak peek of an "insight" I had while reading this talk :)

"Petitioning in prayer has taught me, again and again, that the vault of heaven with all its blessings is to be opened only by a combination lock. One tumbler falls when there is faith, a second when there is personal righteousness; the third and final tumbler falls only when what is sought is, in God's judgment--not ours-- right for us. Sometimes we pound on the vault door for something we want very much and wonder why the door does not open. We would be very spoiled children if that vault door opened any more easily than it does. I can tell, looking back, that God truly loves me by inventorying the petitions He has refused to grant me. Our rejected petitions tell us much about ourselves but also much about our flawless Father."

Good stuff eh? :)

http://lds.org/new-era/1978/04/insights?lang=eng&query=making+our+blessings+count

A Little Reminder

"Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." -Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Family Reunion

Last weekend we had the Hubbard Family Reunion. It's Grandma and Grandpa's 50th anniversary this year, so we all went up to Kennewick, Washington to celebrate. It was fun to see everyone that we haven't seen for years. You always get a bunch of crazies though when you get all the Hubbards together :) But it was great, we all had a good time.