... Those that looseth their life shall find it ...

That is exactly how I feel right now...

Just this past Sunday morning I clicked the submit button on my mission papers. I always kinda thought I would stay here in Provo for a little while longer. My business is going great, I love my job, and I feel like all my hard work is finally starting to pay off. Now, I leave it? Logically, I was telling myself, look at all the career offers you have been getting, take it and relish the success. But, in my heart, taking that road just didn't feel right.

Many of you had no idea that I was even considering a mission as an option, and neither did I frankly. It wasn't until a couple months ago that I really started to toy with the idea. I had been thinking seriously about going to med school, which is great right? I thought so. I felt like I had all the right qualities, and it had always been a dream of mine to at least apply. I started looking at the pre-reqs so I could plan on taking the MCAT.

All my life, what I remember the most about my character is that I wanted to help people, to teach people, cure people, do anything I could to make people happy. Then, I was reading a talk from one of the past GC talks, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. This whole time I kept saying that I wanted to help people, but when people asked me about serving a mission, I would say it wasn't for me. But serving a mission is a time in my life where I could help people and focus solely on teaching the Good News. Out of everything on this earth, in this time, this is the most important thing ever! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Plan of Happiness.

I put my availability date as the end of November. And I will be moving back to my parent's house in California in two weeks! I told a couple of my students just now about leaving, and they started to cry, their parents started to cry. I thought I had prepared myself emotionally to leave, but I guess I didn't do it very well, because my own tears mixed with theirs as we embraced in friendship. I knew all along that I was very attached to my students and their families, but again it hit me that this is the biggest sacrifice I could give. I am literally giving up my lively-hood, my life to serve our Lord.

I just realized that I think I need to do this so I can move on with my life. I became comfortable, and I knew that I wasn't progressing anymore. I felt stagnate for a while now. I am excited for this new step I am taking. This will be the hardest thing I had to decide in all of my almost 24 years. I know that this is the true church of Christ and I am eager to share with the people of the world my love for them and the love that our Heavenly Father has for them. We are his children and he knows us personally.

Love you all much!

California Here I come...with some kids

So, I will be going home for a couple days and I am so excited! I decided to take two of my skaters down to my parents house for Alicia's Summer Figure Skating Intensive. We will be leaving on Saturday August 1 and staying till mid afternoon August 6. I really wanted to give the girls a great opportunity to train at another rink than the Peaks. We will do two freestyles starting at 5:45 AM, and three off-ice lessons daily. They will get to have private lessons each day as well as group instruction with my mom, coach Teri. My mom was in Utah about a month/two months ago for a technical specialist seminar, and she had the opportunity to be a guest teacher for about six of my students. They loved having her there and learning from her vast knowledge of the sport! Hina and Tiffani are busting at the seams to go. =) Their love of figure skating is amazing to see. I am grateful that they are able to come and share this adventure with me. I wish that all of my little students could go.

We will be going to Knott's Berry Farm on Saturday. The girls have already been to Disneyland many times, so we decided to go someplace new for them. Plus, Knott's is cheaper and it has an ICE SHOW!! My family and I went for Christmas and had a blast. I am looking forward to showing the girls the fine life here in California.

My dad is in town remodeling the master bathroom. It is quite the project. The old house has old plumbing that causes great headache. It will look amazing though when the boys finish in there. They have worked very hard and have had lots of problems along the way.

UPDATE:

Guitar lessons are going well. I feel like I am actually getting kind of better. I felt like suck a fish out of water for the first month and half. I played my first classical piece about two weeks ago, and it is lovely! Not my playing per-se, but the piece itself. I really think I would like to learn more finger styles, they are so pretty!

I hope that all your summers are going fantabulously! Please share any of your adventures with me. I love stories! God Bless you all on your endeavors.

Update...kinda...well, kinda short update...

Hi!


So, my sister-in-law's sister, Gabby, got married on Saturday. So her family, including my brother and Justine came from Colorado up to Utah for the event, as well as my parents. It was nice to see family, even if it was only for a little bit.

Justine has a lot more stomach than the last time I saw her (Christmas) and the baby will be here soon. I am excited to be an Aunt! Mike looked swell, and I am glad that he styled his hair the way he did for the wedding...lol it was the classic Michael look, and I like it!

Gabby and Jake were radiant, and I am so happy for them, and excited for there new adventure.

After the wedding reception my mom, dad, and I went to the Olympic Oval to meet my friend Mel. We got there at the end of the session, which was fine, I appreciate the time that we did have watching Mel skate around and listening to my mom give her pointers. We then went to my Grandma Ballard's house to stay for the rest of the weekend. We had a nice surprise when we arrived...my Aunt Janet brought fresh, juicy, yummy, pizza! So good!!


It was wonderful to spend part of the weekend away from Provo and visit with family.

Soon hopefully, I will be able to learn how to use this thing and put up pictures and stuff. Maybe if you all are lucky, I will post a video of my awesome guitar playing. I am learning some scales now, which is exciting. =)

This week changes for me... the rink schedule is starting its Summer times and I have to move about 25 students around. But, at least I don't have to be at the rink at 5 30 am any more!

Until next time...

TJ's Packin'

Hello,

As many of you know I live with one of my brothes, TJ. On this Friday, mid-afternoon, he is getting ready to leave for a two week back home in California. As he was packing he had me listen to this "Annoying Teenage Ring Tone". As we get older our hearing naturally diminishes, leaving the lower registered pitches easier to hear than the high ones. Some teenagers are using this common ailment for their advantage, using a ring tone that is one high pitched noise, so that in class they might receive text messages without the teacher knowing. Tricky! When I listened to this irratating sound, the tiny, mini hairs in my ears raised stiff. I am so glad that during my middle school/ high school years I was not tortured with such on goings.

Now, it will be interesting to see how much longer this goes on for. My sister and my dad both teach high school...I wonder if they can hear it?? =)

On a different note, I am extremely excited to start guitar lessons! I have been thinking about it for a while now, and I finally got the courage to find a teacher. I did my research, and spent a good amount of time searching for a good fit. I believe I have found a great person to start from. A lot of you know that I sing. And I realised that I wanted to have a more portable instrument to accompany myself. This is going to take a lot of work, I know. But music is like a language, you learn one and the next one is easier, and the next one even easier. Just having a strong base in music theory is going to help me so much. I am grateful for my parents for their willingness to sacrafice in order for me to pursue my musical desires. They have blessed my life and I am eternally grateful for their support.

Blogging...

Hello dear ones,


So it has come down to this. Blogging. I have succumbed to the pitfalls of peer pressure and started this blog. Yes you are reading it now(hopefully?), and reading correctly. My hope for this blog is as follows: that by allowing myself to join this enormous bandwagon, I might be able to stay in contact with Family and Friends all over the world. I do not guarantee anything. I especially do not guarantee this to be a form of entertainment. Maybe you will find something I write humorous, maybe boring (most likely), perhaps pitiful, for this is my first go at an electronic journal.

Now, this will be an interesting and potentially horrific display of an attempt, but I will try to keep updating as much as I can. The journey has begun...