The Miracle of Forgiveness

I've slacked off a bit spiritually since being home from my mission. I've recently tried to get back into the routine of daily scripture study. What holds me back is I love to read and if I'm gonna sit down and read a book it's difficult for me to focus on Lehi's dream when I could be finding out who's snipers have cross hairs set on Kyle all day in The Associate by John Grisham. So I figured if it's a novel I'm looking for might as well read a church novel or at least a church book in novel format. As I scanned the shelves at Deseret book I came across "The Miracle of Forgiveness" by Spencer W. Kimball." I had an instant flashback to a time before my mission when I came across the book in the church library and I asked my bishop about it. He responded in these words, "don't read that book! You'll never want to serve a mission if you read that book! That book can make an apostle feel guilty!" I was stunned at the time but a smile now ran across my face as I thought well the missions over now muahahahaha.
I had a few companions tell me they had to read it as part of their repentance process, everyone knows it's the ultimate punishment for transgressing. Why did I wanna read it? I don't know but I didn't want others in the store to judge me for picking it up. I felt almost like I was buying a porno (not that I've ever done that) but I remember looking side to side to see if I was being watched. When nobody was looking I reached out and snatched a copy all in one motion then positioned it with the cover against my body so nobody would know the difference. Once the eagle had landed I made my assention to the front counter, looking back and forth at people as I moved swiftly. I stopped momentarily to admire all the CTR rings that were in different languages, then continued as I put into perspective the package I had obtained and the need for it to be in my glove compartment as soon as possible. I slammed it on the counter face down so even the lady checking me out might not know. She spoke up, "Miracle of Forgiveness eh?"
I shrieked and replied "it's not mine, it's for a friend!" Why did I say that so loud. SHE SEES RIGHT THROUGH YOU! I'm sure she's heard that one a million times before. I started to question if I was guilty. The expression on her face told me I was. Ahhhh no wonder my bishop was trippin. Why am I getting this? PUT THE THING IN THE BAG LADY IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR LIKE 5 MINUTES! It's a good thing this thing will help me repent. I'm repenting? Am I talking or is the book talking now? My precious! My preeeecious! Give me my precious!
"21 dollars." The woman said as I shot her a look. "That's the price of repentence in this church ha ha ha." What? Oh I was thinking outloud again.
She was kind enough to put it in a black bag for me and off I went.
I put the bag in my glove compartment and never opened it again. Instead I read a less scary book that afternoon. "The Shining" by Steven King."

The Summer Obsession

The title of this blog is actually the name of a band I have grown to love the last few months. A couple weeks before the summer started Jordan Ault and I packed our Xterras to the roof. We took what little cash we had and set off for San Diego. During a brief four days spent in St. George along the way we went off road, rock climbed, reunited with old friends, made some new ones and spent a lot of time talking about how awesome our summer was going to be in California. At about two in the morning of the fourth day there we decided we couldn't wait anymore. We would drive all night and be in San Diego by the morning. We headed out and when I hit the freeway I was scanning my Ipod for something to listen to when I came across a band I didn't know I had. Reading the title "The Summer Obsession," I thought it fit the situation quite nicely, not knowing at the time their sounds would ultimately be the soundtrack of my summer.

"Don't need no cash, we can make a dash, hit the street. It's always been, always been, you and me. Baby it's cool, you suck at school anyway, let's pack it up, let's run away, run away. I don't care what we do, where we go, how we get there. We can drive, we can fly, we can walk, we can sit here. Take your time I'll be fine, nevermind me I'll be alright. Cause tonight I'm down for whatever. Got no flow, I'm so broke, finding change between couches. I watch you from a distance, I remember all those instances, when you smile, when you laugh when you crash, when I'm there to catch you when you fall. And I miss you. I wish you were hear. I stopped breathing when you said you don't care anymore. We had the best times of our lives, being the bad guys singing along. A1A bust a left, hit the beach when it gets late. Moonlit night, summer skies we align with the ocean spray. "

I would just like to give shoutouts to those of you who have been a part of it thus far. First and foremost Calee Schroeder, my best friend/coolest/most beautiful girl I've ever met. Jordan Ault for starting this journey with me and for always having my back. James Barsdorf for currently hooking me up with a sick job that pays extremely well:) Dad and Emily for your patience. Anyone who baught food storage from me. Ha ha I sold food storage lol. Todd Hair for being a sick manager while I did it. Josh, Tyler and Cameron as well for taking the risk. A.J. for introducing me to Hurt Locker lol. Luke for being hilarious. My brother Scott for completing basic training with the Army. Kristin Davies for being a pal and hooking us up with Mitt Romney's boogie boards! Elder Holland for speaking in church a couple weeks ago. Mom and her man I have yet to meet. Supa for stirring the pot. Ryan Memmot cause if I don't put him on here he'll cry like a baby and say stuff about me not rapping about him. Matt Klekas my lover. Kevin and Benji for being pimps and Abby Staples for completing her mission! Love all you guys, thanks for being so rad. You've made it possible for me to survive.

I'd also like to mention: Costco Hotdogs, half priced sushi, freckles, bum tickles, sand in my bed and in my shower, the smell of perfume on my pillow, the Padres, Glenn Beck, 5 for 5, Anchors away, SD Fair, SD zoo, especially the Panda exhibit, sombrero mexican food, blink 182, dashboard, blue october, The Summer Obsession of course, Ron Pope, Tech n9ne, Caribou Lou, Jellysickles, ShAwTy, lust, nissan, bmw, dragon paintings, love, blue eyes, good kissing, naps, jellyfish, Xcel Alarms, Daily Bread, Danny Wright, Vegas, the Sahara Hotel, Arizona, the big chair in beaver, stadium of fire, snuggle fest 2009, my two stalkers and one on the rise, harry potter, john grisham, Laguna Beach house, the 1.5 million dollar painting in that beach house, Climbing to the Hollywood sign at night, paying a quarter to use bathrooms in LA, the trollies, alcatraz, body surfing, the 20,000 miles I put on my Xterra, surviving, President Jardine, Robbie Huckvale, Travis McGarrah, and the list goes on. There's still some summer left!