The Family

So a couple months ago I committed to memory The Family: A Proclamation to the World.   Sadly to say I could probably only do the first few paragraphs now.. so I should probably review it some more. I would encourage everyone to read it and even have a copy in the home!

Today I was reading a talk Don't Leave For Tomorrow What You Can Do Today which emphasized the importance of family and could be extended to anyone you love.  Elder Costa taught, "We can lay down our lives for those we love not by physically dying for them but rather by living for them- giving of our time; always being present in their lives; serving them; being courteous, affectionate, and showing true love for those of our family and to all men-as the Savior taught."  

I want to live for people.  

I love my family.  They are simply amazing!  I am so glad that I can be with them forever. 

This is just a few years old. haha!    :)

Another good talk.  Just for fun.

 

Lindy Hop

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_hop

So  I started to lindy hop about 2 years ago.  It is now the only form of dancing that I am actually somewhat capable of doing though I think it would be really cool to learn other things such as tango but that is really beside the point.  The point is that I really really enjoy dancing.

  To some, that may be surprising... i.e anyone who knew me before two years ago.  I told one of my good friends from high school about it and he could not believe me.  He reminded me of a time when we were skateboarding downtown and we stopped for lunch at a little diner with a juke box and I tried to dance and had not a single bit of rhythm in me.  He claims he has video footage of this and I am afraid of what the incriminating evidence will show... actually to my defense it could show how far I have really come.  hehe

Anyway for everyone who has known me since, knows that I really like to lindy hop.  I have been able to go to many events in many different states and even to an event in Sweden that lasted an entire month!

If you asked me why I like to do it so much, I probably could not give you a very good descriptive answer.  I think a lot of it has to do with the music because whenever it is on ( when it is good) I cannot help but be happy.  I don't know, it just makes you develop yourself on so many levels.  It is athletic and social, takes work and effort.. maybe dedication would be a better word and it is just fun!  If you asked me why I wanted to get better,  I could probably give a better answer.  So when you start out, you are not good at all and everyone around you seems amazing and follows usually dread dancing with you.  One time when I was in Utah (down from school in Idaho), I was dancing and I heard a friend say "Oh my gosh, that was soo amazing.  He is so good! aoh!" [with a shake of her head and a glimmer in her face] or something to that extent.  When I heard this, I was like...man I want girls to say that about me when I dance with them [instead of them rolling their eyes and putting up with me for an entire song and then running away].  That may sound selfish but it really is not.  I want to be able to have a girl..good or not.. to feel awesome and when they can feel like that, then I also have an awesome time.  Did that make much sense?  And so I continue to try to improve myself because it is a never ending process and that way, when the follows are better I can also be able to dance well with them.

This weekend, there was an event put on in Utah called Harlem Nights.  Skye [DC] and Frida [Sweden] (some of my most favorite dancers to watch) came and taught workshops.  I was able to attend one of them and it was really fun.  More than anything though, I was able to dance with Frida a couple times and Nelle from Denver.  They are incredible follows [and made me feel awesome].  When you dance with people that are better than you it really pushes your ability to dance.  These are not the only follows that pushed my ability this weekend but they are follows that are very much above my ability which is sooo cool.  I also had a fun time dancing with some people from Canada, Claudia and Edina...and of course I had an amazing good time dancing with Sabra and Heidi  but  not Julie because she wouldn't dance with me tisk tisk but had she danced with me I am positive that I would have had a good time dancing with her as well.

Anyway, those are some of my thoughts on the matter.  I could probably ramble on and on about it but I think this is sufficient.  I encourage anyone who is interested or could possibly be interested to just go do it.  If you are in Utah, I will drag you there if that is what it would take. I do warn you that it can be addicting!  If you do not believe me you can ask Jon.  Poor kid, I ruined his life.  Well I do not think that is entirely true. haha  

So this is a fun clip of some great dancing.  

I am glad it is Sunday

So Friday after work I had the wonderful opportunity to work on my homework and see my nephews and then be challenged by Jeremy to Dr. Mario. (Dr. Mario by the way is an old Nintendo game that I used to play as a kid [Kinda like Tetris but way better] and my sister has recently obtained a copy of it and I have had a chance to play it on a couple of occasions since.) Needless to say I was the victor and though I am still a bit rusty I am up for other challengers! Anyway, I then had the chance to go lindy hop in Salt Lake City which again was a lot of fun. I really like to lindy hop, which I will save for another time I think.
Afterwords, I went out to eat with Jon to the Village Inn. I had a side of hash browns while Jon ordered some egg meal. Needless to say his meal looked...a little more appealing. Even though I did not get home until 2:30 and had work at 7 it was worth it. I have had a lot on my mind and it was nice to talk it out. It is amazing what talking can do... I recommend it to everyone... really it is soo nice.
Saturday, I am not going to lie was not an easy day, in fact yeah, it was not very great at all but alas at least after work while I was working on some assignment, my nephews found it entertaining to use me as a human trampoline. I love those kids. They are so ridiculously intelligent and have huge personalities. I am sure their mother appreciates it. hahaha... Oh man :)
I dialogue all of this not to bore you which I am sure I have but to make a point. Today is Sunday. I was able to rest, attend my church meetings, read what I wanted to, cook a meal, work out little things that I have been thinking about, etc. I did not have to work or do homework. I am not saying that I do not enjoy these things but it sure is nice to have a time to take a break. ..Yeah it is great! Not to mention, it has just snowed several inches and it is dark and beautiful outside!