There's a Difference in Livin and Livin Well

Three amazing things happened this week.

1. Since I got back here to BYU I had somewhat of a goal to go on a date with a Cougarette or Cheerleader. Also, most of my life I've always been intrigued at the idea of taking out a black girl. There are two black cheerleaders at BYU. One of which is extremely attractive. At work on Thursday, she came in and walked directly up to me and asked my name and started flirting with me. It pretty much rocked. She made it fairly clear she wanted me to ask her out - until she found out I had a girlfriend. Then she seemed a little bummed. So obviously, I didn't get to achieve my goal, but the knowledge that I could have had I wanted to is pretty awesome. It was a nice stroke to the ego. It gets better though - Saturday night I took Brittan ice-skating, and the black cheerleader was there. I got to introduce them to each other.

2. I got sick last night. - That's not the amazing part.

It's that BOTH Megan AND Brittan brought me soup!! Probably the greatest time of being sick ever. I got TWO big bowls of soup! For free!! So they rock. Megan can make chicken noodle soup from scratch. I didn't know that was possible. But she did. And it made me better. And Brittan brought me tissues that have Vicks in them, so my headache went away.

3. I got a call from Brother Dwayne Leary. He and Sister Leary are going to be sealed on February 19th. Elder Pebley (now known as Chance) and I made them a promise that when it happened we would drive down to be there. That happens to be a 3-day weekend (That's not a coincidence). So a roadtrip to Snowflake has been planned.

College Life

So this evenin I had a little extra time because I got my homework done early and I needed a break before studyin for my Finance exam. Will and I decided we wanted some quesadillas, however, upon a rigorous search of the fridge, we discovered two tubs of butter and half a stick of butter - both well expired. So we had to go to the store to buy butter. This finding led me to be curious of the rest of the things sitting in our fridge. So while Will cooked us up some tasty quesadillas, I went through the fridge. Found many many things that expired in November & December of 2010. Anyone want to guess the winner?

Lemon juice that expired in June of 2006.

Yes. That was sitting in our fridge door.

Runner-up: Lime juice that expired in July of 2006.

The saddest part is that it wasn't THAT shocking to find those after throwing out 7 or 8 other condiments that expired in 08 and 07.

Needless to say, Will and I are very excited to move into the Summer Condo.

Max

One of my favorite families I worked with in Scottsdale was the Corcorans. Claudia (the mom) had been baptized as a little girl and left the Church as a teenager. She's now married with 3 kids (Max 13, Hannah 12, Jack 8). The husband Peter has been in and out of jail. He's a good guy with good intentions, just doesn't always make good choices. We started teaching them last December and Claudia immediately loved it and they started coming to church regularly. Hannah was baptized in February, but Max didn't want to for a few different reasons. After another month of working with him he was baptized. He talked to me on facebook today and told me he was just called to be the deacons quorum president. That was probably the best news I've gotten all year.

A Brand New Semester

I am absolutely loving my classes so far this semester. They're exciting, they make sense, and they have relevance to life and teach me things I'll most definitely use later on. No more of this useless calculus crap. Extremely cool things in my ISYS201 class. Actually almost a little scary the amount of information you can get online. Like how much every house in the nation is worth. And how much an average household spends in a neighborhood. Useful if you're wantin to start up a business though. Having two classes with Will is a lot of fun. Especially Marriage Prep. It's amusing to tell people that we're preparing for marriage together. Also it's amusing to hear peoples stories in there. "This one time, I was looking at him on Skype...." "We met through Facebook...." those are definitely not made up either. And having a class with Brittan is also exciting. It's pretty funny to me that it's Biology. But I'm okay with that.

Jimmer absolutely owned Utah. We embarassed them on their homecourt. It was fantastic. 47 points. Unbelievable. 104-79. We led by more than 30 points. Jackson Emery passed Danny Ainge for the most steals in BYU history. So great to be able to do it against Utah. The world just feels so much happier when the Utes lose. We are so flippin good. Number 10 in the nation. Soon to be higher. Next big game: vs. #6 San Diego State (17-0) Wed Jan 26th 7:00 pm in the Marriott Center. Where we don't lose.

Best of 2010

Hiked Camelback with President Bassett and Elder Diaz and the Bassett Family

A long time coming: Donaldo Cabezzas Baptism

Later that same day, Linda Price baptized

My one and only Cougar Companion

Carolina Galaviz Baptized

Elder Young joins the companionship to create the unstoppable trio.

(also, hiding behind us is one of the greatest office couples ever, The Livingstons)

Max got baptized!! The Corcoran Family is one of the best in Scottsdale

Standin on THE corner in Winslow, Arizona with President Bassett

The Miracle of March: Sister Lavely's Baptism

Exchanges in Holbrook: one of the best days in the mission with two of the greatest Elders to ever serve in Arizona

The Farewell Tour: Back in Apache Junction for a day with my boy and an MTC roommate. They were doing things I had only dreamed of the previous spring

The Farewell Tour: Return to Snowflake. Miracles still commonplace in the area (which had been split into two areas by then)

The Farewell Tour: Maricopa. Buck Jobe, who I had taught two years before, announced he was going to get baptized. Heather and all five of her sons still active with callings.

We just look so dang good, I couldn't leave this one out

At attention and ready for orders. Me and President Bassetts last transfer in the Mesa Mission.

An example of true repentance. Doug Bouet's baptism

Taking the scenic route home from my final Zone Conference. Celebrating Elder Youngs birthday on Roosevelt Lake

Probably the biggest miracle of my mission. Lauren Hazeltons baptism

These are the guys they let supervise the mission? Are you kidding me?

Anywhere Elder Young went, absolute miracles followed him. 10 baptisms my final transfer. These four on the last Saturday. Donte O'Quinn, Mayok Nyoun, Anthony Rawlins, and Andrew Petteway

Tender Mercy of the Lord: Mission comes full circle as I return to my first area on my very last Saturday in the field and witness Buck Jobes baptism.

Two years later. Sunburnt, battle-scarred, weathered, drained, yet victorious. Elder Poole was an amazing MTC companion.

The glorious return.

Back in Houston with the family

Picking up where I left off: still the Astros biggest supporter

Family Pictures!

(minus Liz who was bursting at the seams with Emme)

Visiting old friends and old memories

Back at BYU: We're still number one!

Two new friends: Will & Black Bullet

Awesome Cougar Saturdays with Jack from Provo

President Bassett came to see me

To hot dates in one to see the cougars sweep UNLV

First Mission Reunion

We'll call it an unforgettable General Conference

Hopefully

It's tough to understand how anyone could not love Texas with views like this

Everyone home for the holidays means lots of grandkids that want to have a dance party with Uncle Andrew