"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving" -W.T. Purkiser

I feel like I should write in here although I don't really know what to say. Maybe I'll just say what I'm thinking right now. I was invited to participate in a program/conference on diplomacy in China this summer. It's really expensive but it would be an incredible experience. It would be good for my resume and I think it would help me jumpstart a career in diplomacy, government, international development, or whatever it is I want to do with my life. Lately things have been happening with my major, classes, and other things that are kind indicating the direction of my career. I think it would be incredible to actually be involved with something where I could help improve the world cause that's what I want to do with my life. But things could happen where I'd have to live in a big city and possible 50-60 hour work weeks. There's kind of two sides battling in my head: do I want to have an intense political career? or do I want the simple life? I wish I could have both where I do world-changing work from 8-5 and then go to my simple home in the suburbs, and play with my family the rest of the night. I really just want to be an awesome dad, always coming home with a flower for my wife and candy for the kids, wrestling with them all, etc. I think my marriage prep class is getting me to think of all this now more than anything. But I still feel like Heavenly Father has given me certain talents that He expects me to use to help others.

A recent survey was released that only 30% of people our age in the U.S. are happy, while nearly 80% or so of the people are happy living in Africa and other third world countries. Here are some other stats:

800 million people go to bed hungry every day.

Over 1 billion people live on less than $1 a day with nearly half the world's population (2.8 billion) living on less than $2 a day.

20% of the population in the developed nations, consume 86% of the world’s goods.

There are so many people with so little. My problems are nothing compared to theirs, and yet I complain everyday about little things. I've been blessed with so much. I personally need to do better at being grateful for what I do have. I need to do better at showing God and others my love for them. I have lots of good examples in my life of people who give selflessly. All God wants is for us to love Him and His children. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I Did it!

I beat level 23 on Typer Shark! My new PB is a score of 6,265,204 and I got through like 1/3 of level 24. I think beating 24 is totally doable.

Here's Pres. Hinckley on frustrations with dating:
Do not give up hope. And do not give up trying. But do give up being obsessed with it. The chances are that if you forget about it and become anxiously engaged in other activities, the prospects will brighten imeasurably...
I believe that for most of us the best medicine for loneliness is work, service in behalf of others. I do not minimize your problems, but I do not hesitate to say that there are others whose problems are more serious than are yours. Reach out to serve those people, to help them, to encourage them.
Pres. Kimball:
Father in Heaven is aware of your anguish. One day He will bless you beyond your capactiy to express. Sometimes to be tested and proved requires that we be temporarily deprived-but righteous women and men will one day receive all-think of it-all that our Father has! It is not only worth waiting for; it is worth living for!

Bureaucracies!!

Not only do I not like spelling the word but today was an example of how ineffective they can be run! The School of Technology is having its annual Christmas party. So I sent out probably 70 invitations. The funny thing is that half of those invitations were to professors and we put invitations into their mail boxes here in the office. So we're wasting like $20 or something.
Bureaucracies waste money because they are given their budget each year. If it's close to the end of the year and they haven't spent their budget they will make unnecessary purchases so that their next year's budget isn't significantly smaller. Totally a waste of money!

I'm trying to think of someone to hook Heather up with.

Yesterday I was playing around on the BYU service website and it said there was an urgent need for a basketball coach for Meridian Middle School. I emailed them and said I'd do it, but didn't really think they'd take me serious. Well I got an email saying stuff like, "we're so excited," "the boys didn't think they'd have a team this year," etc. So it's looking like I'll start coaching a middle school basketball team in a couple weeks. Weird! I'm going to have Gavin help me cause I haven't played basketball since high school and forgot how practices should be run. My goal is to get kicked out of a game by a ref, and make a kid cry...j/k.

Uganda, Holland, here we come!

So I found out that there's a good chance that my flight to Uganda in the Spring will go through Amsterdam. So I'm thinking about making it a weeklong layover- the Spring is the best time to visit Holland because the flowers are all in full bloom. I'm hoping that'll work out, that would be awesome!
In Uganda I'll be doing projects like building houses, teaching English, working with Micro-credit, teaching Square Foot Gardening, etc. I'll be in Uganda from May 7th-June 17th (roughly) and then I want to do a week safari or climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. How cool would that be?!!! Skyler, Cecilia, and Sara are interested, along with a mission buddy and his girlfriend. Everybody should come!

Dallas is cool.

I'm glad to see that one of the relationships (Carrie and Bret) I received revelation for is working out. Now hopefully those other four will work out.

Gosh! I came so close to beating level 23 on Typer Shark, I got killed by the last shark of the level...otherwise I would have won. I have a new personal best score though- 6,000,000.

Crazy elections. Ya know, I actually am looking forward to the next two years with the Democrats in office. I hope they can get more done than the Republicans who have done very little the last six years with the Legislative and Executive branches. The Democrats tend to be more "internationalist" in their views. Meaning they are more about helping the world and be a part of it. I don't agree with their typical social agenda, nor the economical agenda. But a lot of the Democrats elected are moderate, meaning that several don't agree with gay marriages. I know it's hard to believe but I don't think there's a chance of overturning Roe v. Wade (abortion). I think we're stuck with that. Typically that's the only issue we (Mormons) look at. But Democrats are people too who want the best for this country just like Republicans, it'll be interesting.

Ha, Sky-don't be too alarmed. Be alarmed but we're just joking around too.

A joint statement from Amanda and Council Bluffs

Even though we are both stubborn and technically enemies, we have decided to be temporarily allied in a joint effort against Skuffs and Rebekah. They will pay. No reason to be alarmed, the world will not stop turning and random wrestling matches will continue. He doesn't realize the pains and humiliations he has caused the two parties in thinking that he, a Moticellan, can come across the parking lot and inflict prankage. Step off!

Shoot!

I almost beat level 23 on Typer Shark. I have a new personal best for my score: 5,200,200 about.

I've been thinking about this quote for like 3 hours:

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

-Gandhi