On a more serious note...

*note: this post is much more personal and serious than usual. Don’t worry, I’m okay. Just wanted to say some things…

Recently, I have been thinking more introspectively, and reflecting on the miracles that are prevalent in my life—the greatest of which, I often take advantage of. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are many people in the world who know what that means (many of my 3 fans/blog readers!!!), but there are also many who have no idea and probably don’t really care.

When I was young, my family took a trip to California and were staying in a hotel. I remember sitting in the hot tub with my mom and we were soon accompanied by a few fellow hotel stayers. They started light conversation, and after asking where we were from, asked my mom if we were "Mormon". She acknowledged this proudly. Then, they asked how many wives she was sharing my dad with. Despite my young age, I found the whole encounter rather amusing. (Not that my dad couldn't get another wife, but just that he would need to! My mom is amazing!) It is my earliest memory of meeting someone who didn't belong to the same religion that I do, and at the time, I wondered if I would've been brave enough to stand up for what I believed.

Well, time passed and one day I found myself talking to another man who once again, was contesting my beliefs. He wondered how I could believe something that was so ridiculous to him, and I remembered that this man was my brother and I wanted so badly for him to feel as happy as I felt. At this moment, I realized that this was a chance for me to stand up for my beliefs--not because I was right and he was wrong, but because I knew that he needed what I had.

And now, I have another opportunity. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know that He bled and died so that I have to opportunity to be cleansed from sin. I know that God is my father and that he loves me. I know that he knows my name and my heart. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same that Christ himself organized when he was on the earth, and it is true. When I think that I have the truth, it makes me want to cry and yell and thank my Father that I have been given such an incredible gift. I can call the sky purple or yellow or green, and I can really believe it, but it doesn't make it true. In the same way, what God says is true and right. It doesn't matter what I think or say or even believe, the truth is still the truth and I am so happy to have it. I wouldn't be anything without the light and joy that fills me because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why I live. That is why I smile.

If anyone reading this post has a desire to learn more about this life-giving truth, go to: lds.org or mormon.org

Thanks for reading.

So, I've been thinking...

I saw a woman wearing a sombrero today. She had four children with her, each donning a hat of all kinds of shapes, colors and sizes but she definitely won the ugly hat contest (well, I actually kinda liked it. :)) I think if I were an immigrant from Mexico, I would move back home after seeing some of the fashion statements in this country.

Have you heard the song "Love song" by Sara Bareilles? You know, "I'm not gonna write you a love song, cause you need it, ...." It's pretty amazing that she was even thinking of writing a love song for that punk that she wrote this song for. (Isn't that a little ironic?) Anyway, I tried to write a love song once. It said something like, "Paul, (he was the boy I liked for those 5 minutes) you're the cutest boy I've ever seen, you look like you're from a magazine..." Well, needless to say, my songwriting career never really took off.

You know what I think is amazing? Yeast. all it needs is a little warmth and it grows like crazy. Maybe we should make an alternative source of fuel that uses yeast to expand the source. Then we could save the world. Oh wait. That's my idea. Don't even think about trying to steal it.