A trip that will not be forgotten

This past week Carla and I left to Provo Utah Thursday morning to go to my Brian and Olive's graduation later that day.  I had been kind of stressing out all that week to get a ride and we finally got it taken care of (we got a ride from someone from the ride board).  The drive went great and the driver dropped us off at Matt B. house.  Mom and Dad and Michael and we went clothe shopping and then went to Panda Express it was delicious.  Then we watched thousands of students graduate from BYU Provo.  Brian and Olive were both awarded most outstanding students in their degree which is very prestigious.  At the graduation I saw from a distance I saw a man wearing a bright pink shirt and was bald.  "Oh my goodness!", I thought it was Bishop Bumbaugh!  His wife was next to him as well as President and Sister Prier.  Bishop Bumbaugh was a bishop from Huntsville Texas.  He was a great man.  He taught me the importance of writing thank you notes, being a great home teacher,  and being considerate of those that are less active.  President Prier was the stake President of College Station who also lived in Huntsville.  He taught me about the importance of being patient with your wife and being a missionary 24/7 and never being fearful of inviting others to act on the gospel such as hearing from the missionaries. 

On Friday Brian and Olive had another graduation called Commencement that only had the Business Majors.  That was also fun.  Afterward we had a nice family dinner at Matt's house. 

On Saturday we visited a lot of family like my dad's cousin and Grandpa Lowe's sister.  Then we went to a greek fast food restaurant that Mom always loves to go to while we are in Bountiful area.  We ate gyros which were delicious.  Later that night we had a Butcher Talent show.  Carla played the violin, Mom did a really funny dance, Brian and Olive did a funny skit, Lee played the guitar while Michael sang to her song "I just can't wait to be king" from the Lion King, Dad acted as a mime as he pretended to be Mom's play techy (it was really funny).  I didn't anything.  Then some other Butchers participated.  Then Ryan and Juanny Baxter took us home.

The trip was a hug a success and all my family got to meet my girlfriend Carla for the first time.  We had been dating for about a month and a half though it seems a lot longer.  Everyone really welcomed her.  The trip went a lot better than when Olive my sister in law met my family for the first time.  When they met over Christmas my mom and dad like my brother and her cuddling so much and mom sent a note back with Brian saying that mom and dad didn't' think it was appropriate what Brian and Olive did.  Olive cried later.  What a depressing story haha.

On Sunday I got a calling to be the 1st counselor of the Elder's quorum.  I am excited.  I was very curious what my calling would be because the stake wanted to interview me.

Then today on Monday Carla and I talked about FHE.  I brought up again how I wanted to visit her family in Georgia.  She then told me she wanted me to visit her right after the semester ended.  I said I didn't want to wait that long.  Then she said "Is this so we can get married?"  This was the first time we ever talked about us getting married.  I said "yes".  She told me how she wanted to go home for the fall and earn a lot of money and then I said how I thought it would be best if she finished up her last semester up.  I was thinking about us maybe getting married at the very end of July as school will get out and she wanted to get married right after Fall Semester.  We both said we would pray about and then collaborate.

I really do love Carla.  Yesterday during stake conference our stake president talked about fasting.  Carla couldn't make it because she was home sick.  I then got the impression to fast for her so she would heal so I started fasting.  After a little bit I came to the conclusion that I loved her more than eating and drinking.  That some understanding helped really solidify my love for her.  We will both pray about  what timing will be best for marriage but I am happy to say that one thing is for sure.  We will get married its just a matter  of when. :) 

Honor, What Does It Mean To You?

Tonight I had the opportunity to make a decision.  It might have seemed insignificant but it really hit me.  This entire first week of the semester we keep reading syllabus after syllabus.  They all same the same things: maximum amount of absences,  extra credit, no sexual harassment, etc.  I feel like my brain feels like it will always turn to goo due to boredom.  But how much of this info sticks?  Being honest in life even in the little things are so important.  Tomorrow I leave to Utah with Carla to go see Brian's graduation.  I had to read an article and then turn in a notecard by tomorrow morning before I leave but I was planning on just doing it tonight.  It was 11pm and the security guard who was locking up told me I had 30 minutes before I needed to go.  I knew I had about 40 minutes left of reading.  So I kept reading until it was 11 30.  Then I had to make a choice.  Did I want to slip in the mandatory paper and say that I completed the reading even though I didn't finish?  Do I stay in the building even though I told the guard I would leave by 11 30?  Or do I just go home and then come back early the next morning and then slip the note card under the door after I have finished my reading (even though it was really inconvenient).  I walked out and decided I would choose the last option.  It seemed minuscule but it is though these small and simple actions of honesty and integrity that I will become the man I know I need to be.

Once a missionary always a missionary. (Easter weekend)

This past week I got to relax more than I have ever since Christmas break!  It was spring break and I had finished my 2nd semester up here.  I got to spend time with Matt  Butcher and his family.  It was a blast!  I played monopoly almost every night with the boys (excluding matt), I went to Sam's baseball and soccer games, hiked the Y mountain with Matt (I got a cool Facebook picture),  played basketball with Aaron, went to the park where Sam did a large neighborhood easter egg hunt with probably over 100 kids and 2000 eggs, and so much more! 

But more important than all those FUN things was testifying and inviting and helping Aaron make goals to better prepare for his mission.  He sent in his papers last Sunday and put in availability date as July 21.  I am excited for him and is a great guy.  He recently stopped working on Sundays about a 2 months ago.  He decided to quit.  I told him over thanksgiving and Christmas break to quit and find a new job but he procrastinated.  I told him how I knew the Lord would bless him if he would keep the Sabbath day holy.  Now after quitting his old job he has found an even BETTER job.  He has better hours, pay, boss, and he doesn't have to work weekends.  It helps me reflect what things do I need to give up in order to receive the downpour of God's blessings. 

We read the scriptures every night often also accompanied with an article or a Mormon message.  It was so cool to hear about his insights as he read.  I challenged him to continue reading his scriptures with his family after I left.  I know that family scripture study can really bring a family together in so many ways.

Today his Easter.  I know that God lives.  He sent his son Jesus Christ to be born on the Earth, teach and be our perfect example, to establish his church, and eventually atone for our sins so that we can all be saved by his selfless sacrifice.  I know he rose again on the third day giving us the opportunity to be live in Heaven as families.  In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Just what I needed

I just finished up another semester.  I had all A's with a B+ in accounting.  I needed to get really high B's maintain my A's and an A to get a A- in my accounting class.  And after studying working with my tutors and teachers (a lot) I got the grades I needed!  And by some miracle I got an A in accounting.  4.0 GPA!  Now I should be able to get a full ride scholarship for next year.  I am so excited!  I am so grateful to be here at BYUI and get the assistance I desire so I can understand these concepts deeper.  It was also nice because I was able to help Yassiny study for her accounting class because I had received hours and hours of help it was the least I could do.

On Friday I saw Brian and Olive.  They came up to see Ryan Baxter's (Olive's brother-in-law) graduation.  It was fun eating with them at Ryan house and finally meet Olive's family.  Olive's mom didn't recogonize me after I said my name was Eric and then Brian introduced me as his brother.  She felt bad but I thought it was slightly humorous.  That night we went Carla's friend Noelle's graduation.  It was fun spending time together.  On Saturday we went to the hot springs about an hour away it was a lot of fun.  It was the first swimming experience between me and Carla.  It was pretty much like a swimming pool (cemented and nice) but the source was from the ground. 

Then the next day on Sunday I drove to Utah with Brian and Olive to visit Matt Butcher for my week of spring break.  It was really last minute.  I was planning on staying over the break and be a I night leader (that helped with new students get adjusted to BYUI by having them meet new people and giving them a tour) but they said they didn't need me at the last minute.  It was a tender mercy though that I could catch a ride with them.  I know the Lord needed me at Matt's house and I am glad that's where I was able to be.

An answer to a prayer

This past Sunday I did something that I seem to be doing a lot lately.  Being late haha.  I woke up with just enough time to hop in the shower and then run to the assisted living home center where I was speaking (Carla assigned me).  I brought my phone in the bathroom with a 5 minute timer to stay on time and not shower to long.  After a little bit I hear the all to familiar ring of time going off.  I turn it off, dripping some minimal water and then finish get the shampoo out of my hair.  I finished getting ready dressed when and then realize my phone won't turn on.  "Oh no", I thought I must have gotten it a little wet.  I looked up some normal solutions on google and then followed the counsel that I had read by putting it in a bowl of rice while separating the battery and the phone.  I check later night to see if my remedy had done the trick to no avail.  I was disappointed but did not lose hope.  I kept the rice in over night to hope something would change.  It didn't.  I had been praying that I would be able to get a used phone from someone else that wasn't in need of it anymore but I also braced my self if God's will was contrary to my own.  On Wednesday 3 days after my phone had stopped working I was sitting in my Book of Mormon class and I got the impression to ask my teacher Brother Astel if he had an extra Verizon phone at his house if I could have.  I determined I would ask him right after class would end.  As we said the closing the prayer I gathered my things and I completely forgot my previous intention and headed straight to the library to do homework.  After 40 minutes or so I remembered the prompting I received so I decided to go to his office.  As I was near his office I saw him filling up his water bottle at the water fountain?  "Hey Brother Astel,  this is kind of random but does your family use Verizon?"  He answered that they did, "Do you have an extra cell phone lying around your house that you aren't using?" "No, I am sorry", he replied.  "My wife is thinking about getting a new phone in a couple of weeks though."  "Oh, okay", I said, "I was just wondering because my Verizon phone got wet and it doesn't work now and I even tried putting it in rice and didn't work."  Just then a woman came up and said "Sorry for eavesdropping but I actually have a Verizon phone that you could have if you want".  I could hardly believe it.  Was this really happening.  She sent me an email with her cell # and her address.  God had been so merciful to me.  I had gone to the Verizon store earlier that day and they told me it would cost $200 to buy a new one or get one for approx. $50 off of Craig's list (which would be an inconvenience. 

I head over to her house but am running later than I said I would be there.  I then realize after walking 15 minutes that I am on 4 East and not 4 West.  I start jogging so I won't be too late.  I finally get to the apartment 30 minutes late.  I felt guilty.  This woman was doing me such a huge favor and I don't even have the courtesy to be punctual.  I knock on the door a little sheepishly and no one answered.  I knock again.  No answered.  This time I got worried.  Oh no, "I bet she left because she had to do something" I thought.  I can either just sit out on her front porch and wait or come again tomorrow and hope to catch her home.  I knocked one final time with little hope and to my surprise she answered.  She invites me in and apologizes for not answering initially but she didn't hear me because she was sleeping.  I get the phone and go to the Verizon store and everything is so solved (unfortunately I did lose all my contacts but I don't care too much).

Thinking about it now I feel like the Lord's hand was in so many people lives just at the right timing.  I had got the prompting to ask my teacher and talked right where I was "supposed" to.  Brother Astel was filling up his water just at the right time.  The woman (Kelli) who offered me the phone was in that exact spot when I needed her "coincidently" waiting for her husband because that particular day she forgot her phone (which is very uncommon) and Kelli's sister felt impressed to give Kelli the old unused phone just 2 weeks before this happened to me. 

I know that God's hand had a big role in me getting my phone back.  It was almost my exact phone except just one generation older.  I know that my phone wasn't breaking because God didn't love me but on the contrary but he wanted me to receive another witness of miracle from Him.  Of this I am sure in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.