And I’m back in Provo.

You know I love old ladies who like to talk on the plane. They make me laugh. The flight home was long, but filled with the strange chatter that can only accompany two strangers who love to talk. Planes can be like busses some times.

My trip home was a wonderful, though short, way to break the semester in half. Friday night the whole family gathered together and we played apples to apples, which was so much fun. Great game, I tell you, great game. It was also happy birthday mom that day.

Saturday we ran around doing errands and the like, and then we all watched funny girl. Good musical. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to spend time with any of you other than my family- I was only home for 2 and a half days. In two months I’ll be home again, and we will have picnics and parties and the like because in June I will find out where I will be going to spend the next 2 years of my life, and I won’t be coming home during those two years.

Today I went to Church, enjoyed a chicken dinner, and hopped on a plane. It at once gets harder and easier to say good bye. It gets easier because I become more desensitized to the distance. It gets harder because I know that it is getting easier, and there is a part of me that longs to cling to childhood.

“People. People who need people, are the luckiest people in the world . . .”

People,
People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world
We’re children needing other children
And yet letting our grown-up pride
Hide all the need inside
Acting more like children than children
Lovers
Are very special people
They’re the luckiest people in the world
With one person,
One very special person
A feeling deep in your soul
Says you are half now you’re whole
No more hunger and thirst
But first be a person who needs people
People, people who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world.

You know I used to get so frustrated when people would claim that Latter-day Saints were not Christians. Today I was starting to get upset about it again because someone came onto my site and left an anti-Mormon comment. I went to his site where the first post presented things about my Church that were not true. I politely refuted his comments, pointing out how his sources were unreliable and not accepted on a scholarly stand point. I also bore testimony of Jesus Christ. He deleted my comment, and so I got frustrated. Then I realized that the real thing that frustrates me is ignorance. It drives me nuts when people make statements based on ignorance, and this is one of those examples of ignorance. It doesn’t take much scholar to realize that Latter-day Saints are Christians. Read the article I wrote called Are Latter-day Saints Christians? if you want to know why. Realizing that helped me not be frustrated any more because it is his problem, not mine. Besides, in a way Anti-Mormon literature has done us more good than harm. Read this article about that.

It all boils down to this: A Christian is not defined a Christian by what Church he goes to. It is how one lives his life that makes him a Christian. Are there nonChristian Mormons? Yes! Are there nonChristian baptist? YES! Ask my friends if I’m Christian. Ask my friends if I believe in Jesus Christ and put my trust in Him, because I will tell you right now, I believe in Jesus Christ and I put my faith in Him.

If you read the Book of Mormon thoroughly, then you will find that it could not have been written by Joseph Smith. It is clear that the book came from direct inspiration, which leaves two options: inspiration from God, or inspiration from Satan. I’ll let you ask God Himself which one it is after you read it, but consider this. Would Satan inspire a book that’s self declared purpose is to convince all men that Jesus is the Christ. Would Satan inspire a book that teaches men how to avoid the snares of the devil, how to escape temptation, and encourages all people to put off the temptations of Satan and turn instead towards obedience to the laws of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Would Satan inspire a book that helps people become better people?

The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ, and I likewise add my personal witness. I testify that Jesus is the Christ, that He atoned for our sins, and that He lives. I leave you that testimony in His name.

Knock Knock
who’s there?
Boohoo
Boohoo who?
Haha, you said banana!

(my almost five year old brother’s version of a joke)

I’m home! (As in Chicago home)
It feels great to be back in a land where you can actually see the horizion, where the winter is actually cold, where the air is moist, where the people are honest (some call it rude), where the pizza is deep (and tasty), where people actually know what Casmir Pulaski Day is, and where tomorrow my mom will be cellebrating her 40th birthday.

In striking contrast to my flight home at the beginning of winter break, I had a surprisingly pleasent flight. I got to the airport in Salt Lake at 4, in plenty of (too much) time for my 6:12 flight to Denver (where I was to catch a 9:00 flight to O’Hare, landing at midnight). So I sat there waiting and waiting. Then the flight to Denver was delayed. I started to get worried that it would be delayed again, causing me to miss my flight from Denver to O’hare. A little bit after 6 I decided I would go for a walk. That’s when I saw in glorious flashing red letters “O’Hare” above one of the gates. A 4:00 flight straight to Chicago had been delayed until 5:50. It was 6:10, and the woman was closing the doors behind the last of the boarding passengers. I ran over there and asked if it was too late to fly standby. She asked for my boarding pass and if I wanted to stay by the window. I said I didn’t care and so she gave me an aisle seat in ECONOMY PLUS!!, an upgrade from my coach seat.

So basically I got tons of leg room, and I got to see Ladder 49, which I had wanted to see really badly, and I got to fly straight home, landing 2 hours before I was expected! Two hours! Yay for United!

When the voice of God calls down from heaven, mountains fall, seas part, and the Earth trembles. Every blade of grass hears the voice of its Master. Every stone moves when its Creator asks it, and when God came to Earth, all elements obeyed Him. Who then is man? Who is this man that when God calls, only some stop to listen. Who is this man, that when God asks, only few move? Who is this man, that doesn’t obey it’s Creator? Who is this man, who crucified its Savior?

Of all of God’s creations, we are the only ones who do not answer every call or follow every law. Why? Is it because we are worse than even the dust that obeys? Are we the lowest of all creations, doomed from birth? Perhaps. But can we be worthless to He who said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? . . . Ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7)? Can we be worthless to He who inspired the words, “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (D&C 18:10)? Is the son worthless to the father, the offspring worthless to their parents?

Surely, then, these people, this man, who disobey and fail must be of great value. Why? Because “we are the offspring [children] of God” (Acts 17:29) “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God” (Romans 8:17). How? We came into this world clean (see D&C 93:38) and innocent, but now we stand condemned by our own actions. How can we live up to our eternal destiny and the divine potential that comes through our parentage? If we are born clean as children of God and of great worth to Him, how can we die clean and of great worth to Him when between birth and death we cause so much heart ache? I believe that we have an elder Brother, even Jesus Christ, who took upon himself the sins of all mankind. I believe that we have a Father who loved us so much that He sent His beloved Son to break the bands of death and to satisfy the laws of justice so that we could be could be made clean again. Surely is was as Nephi of old prophesied, “And the Messiah cometh in the fullness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.” (2 Nephi 2:26) {see also 2 Nephi 1:15}

I do not believe that men are as worthless as the dust of Earth. I believe than men- that people- are the highest of all of God’s creation. Do we alone not have the agency to choose? Do we alone not have His trust to choose? Are we alone not made in His image?

I think we should be happy. Look to these early Christians of whom “there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing” (Alma 46:39). If man is the pinnacle of creation, and our bodies are sacred, why not rejoice about it? I believe that we have a divine potential in addition to our divine parentage. I guess I just really like human life. Perhaps there is a bit of a humanist in me. I apologize for the monologue. I was thinking about that question when I woke up this morning- Who is man, the only disobedient one of all God’s creation? I have thought on it all day, hence the soap box. If you have some time and want to do something cool, look up the word “redemtion” in the index of the Book of Mormon (look, I did it for you). You will learn a lot. I was surprised. (it’s also cool to look up “redeem” in the dictionary. The word has an interesting history)

In other news, by some miracle I was able to finish most of all that I had to accomplish today despite being sick and swamped. Also, tomorrow around midnight my plane will land in Chicago. Yes, that’s right, I’m going home for the weekend. Yippee! (My mom is turning 40 on Friday!)

er. I’m sick. Thank you for the messages (those of you who left messages). I came home from 3D design exhausted after three hours of wood lathing and it definitely made my day to come home to such warm and fuzzy notes:

I have a bazillion things to do. Why is it that I get sick the day before midterms start?

What a crazy weekend. Crazy as in amazingly fun. Friday night I watched Strange Brew with Josh and John B . . . I know I did other stuff, I just can’t remember what.

Then Saturday Morning I got a call at 9:30 in the morning from Jeff Wegner, who decided he was going to come down with Johnny-boy. So I went to DI (a thrift store) with Kristi, Julia, and Josh as planned. Kristi and Julia helped me change my wardrobe (the idea was to get away from the preppy look and dive into “indie” so we got me some brown pants, two small t-shirts, a blue and white striped button-down, a small hoodie, a belt, and a tweed blazer) I tried the new indie look today with the layers and the messy hair. You can ask Adrien how it looked, or you can beg for pictures and see if I can find a digital camera. Jeff and John H. met us at DI, and then we went and pigged out at Betos. So much fun.

After that Jeff, John, Josh, and I went to the bookstore, and then we met John’s family at Brick Oven where we ate some yummy pizza and harrassed the waiter. Good times. The Hayden’s left but Jeff decided to hang around and spend the night. He took Josh, John B, and I to walmart, and then to the dollar theater where we intended to see Ocean’s 12 but ended up seeing Electra again. It was fun.

The next day we all went to Church, where my lesson went really well. Jeff went back to Logan after Church, so Josh and I ate lunch and bummed around the rest of the day. Watched the Fugitive- great movie. hmm.

Today I tried on my new clothes for Adrien, ate lunch, and swapped picture of home. I’m in a good mood. lalala Sorry this post was more informational than inciteful. Deal.

Edit (11:30 PM)
After swapping pictures I hopped on a bus with Mike, Adrien, Mark, Eric, Brian, Katie, Josh, and JohnJohn. We ran around Provo basically causing trouble. It was tons of fun. Also, just watched “Better Off Dead.” Phenominally hilarious movie. That’s what I need, by the way- a foreign exchange student.

Currently Playing:
Magic Sticks in December
by Best Interest

“Call your friends let’s talk about it… We said we’d write it down because half of the time we tend to forget all the little things we plan and plant so deep inside of our heads. Take my word that feeling’s gone, all hands on deck our weapons are drawn . . . That was fast lets slow it down . . . Strike the bell it’s time to go if you’re reading this, we said we’re sorry. I would never tell if you never ask me, You could never ask if you don’t know.”

Yeah. I am craving an outrageous change again. Redoing my bulletin board doesn’t count. I wish I could make my hair grow faster. Maybe I should just cut it. hmmm. I need to go to DI. I’ve been thinking a lot about the summer. I wish it was summer again. I’m ready now.

I love this band. Watch their video.

“I still don’t want to play your game. You said the thrill has been lost and can’t be regained. You said you’d rather watch the rain than think of me cuz it makes you feel so free. We’ll walk past the memories I will wave as you turn away. If I was talking to you and not writing this maybe I could show you something you haven’t seen . . .” ~This Day and Age

(also listening to Build Me Up Buttercup)

I am stealing this from CHO (annchov) (who stole it from another) because it really impacted me and has made me think about it all day (which we all know is dangerous).
I have made some modifications, but these are the characteristics of the artist according to one of Mr. Mayer’s classes:

pain/anger
passion
break down of inhibitions (non-conformist)
courage
healthy ego
life experiences
child-like nature
time, patience, and a burst of creativity
soul; solitude; loneliness

Pain: yes. yes I have pain. But I think it must be balanced by healing, renewal, and joy.

Passion: Passion is my second favorite word. My first is Euphoria, and my third is Catharsis. I don’t think I lack passion, and I hope I never do.

Non-Conformist: You wouldn’t think this described me- I didn’t until I looked a little closer. I realized that I do not stay content with things for long. I continually long for change. You don’t have to have purple hair to have this quality.

Courage: Perhaps I could work on this one. Perhaps I need courage to make the changes that I crave. And also, perhaps I need the gumption to put myself first.

Healthy Ego: Um. I have ego.

Life experiences: Nature, life, people, action, movement, emotion, reactions, psychology, symbolism, and a billion other things must be closely studied and carefully remembered and cataloged in a life’s worth of experience.

Child-like nature: Naiveté. Honesty. Always having that sense of wonder that comes from always looking at the world like a child seeing it for the first time. Youthfulness must always balance life experiences.

Time, patience: Even beyond the slow process of making art, I would include here a willingness to throw away. The time comes when you are not content or satisfied with the first attempt or idea and so you go through a process of making new ideas until you come up with the idea.

Creativity: A burst of spontaneity, yes, but more important is again that constant looking at the world as if with fresh eyes so that everything you do is original.

Soul: “The soul is the united entity of the spirit with the physical body” (D&C 88:15-16) Most of you have heard me talk about the dual nature of thesensual and the spiritual(link). All artists must find that balance between the beautiful, carnal senses of the flesh and the equally beautiful and higher sensations of the spirit.

Solitude: There is a direct correlation between loneliness and my art. When I am lonely, I have an urge to do more art. It is as if like Pygmalion I am trying to create companionship through my art. Absolutely crucial to the artist to balance that solitude, however, is a network of friends, artists, and connections.