Best Birthday I Ever Had

You know when you have those unexpected great times? The ones you really didn’t plan but just kinda fell together? This weekend was one of those. For lack of a better word, it was EPIC! I had my birthday dinner with the family on Friday night. Jess and Sarah and the whole band showed up. Lynsie made me this huge, three layered music cake. Marie made a delicious dinner. Ashton and I sat around jamming on the acoustic guitars. Saturday morning we got up early and had something of a band field trip, snowboarding at Solitude. Ben got us discounts since he is an instructor there. Aside from the fact that I was completely off my game and spazzing down the mountain, it was a totally fun day. I recall at one point falling in five feet of powder, and after trying to drag myself above the snow and wearing myself out. I just laid back in the snow, breathing heavy, staring at the sky through the pine trees thinking “man, this beats the heck out of a day at the office!” After snowboarding, I raced down to South Jordan where I bought a Line 6 Spider Valve head from a kid named Zack (good price too). After that I went to Jess and Sarah’s where we hand-tossed some pizzas and watched “Knight and Day” with Heather and Bryson. Sunday was a good day at church, I took a three hour nap when I got home and woke up just in time to watch the Super Bowl. Cheers and boos erupted throughout the game as the Packers squeaked out a nail-biter win (yeah Packers!)  against the Steelers while we drank root beers, ate ice cream and Peanut M&Ms (Yeah Packers!). I went to bed watching the dying ember glow fading from my new amp’s tubes thinking “Man, what a weekend!”

What I've Learned from Movies

If a man doesn't follow his dreams he might as well be a vegetable." - Anthony Hopkins, The Fastest Indian
"It is not our abilities that make us who we are, but our choices" - Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter

"Take the straight and narrow path and if you start to slide, give a little whistle, and always let your conscience be your guide." - Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio

"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." - Casey Junior, Dumbo

"The things you own, end up owning you." - Tyler Durden, Fight Club 

"Don't start what you can't finish!" - Ace Ventura, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

2010 - Year in Review

How can I describe the last year? It has been so full. It has been a year of achieving goals, of feeling discouraged at times, of moving forward and staying afloat, of exquisite joy and complete numbness.

The first few months took some adjustment to get used to life in the states again.  Overall I must say, it was great and I feel so blessed.



People:
I have thoroughly enjoyed being with my family this year. The funny times and crazy conversations  on the couch never seem to stop when we're all together. On the rare occasion when we're actually all home together I always feel happy just to be home. I came to make new friends at work, I watched some friends get married, I've gotten to know some great people at church and I'm playing in a band with Jess, Ashton, Ben and Nate, called "Wicked This Way Comes." I met new friends at school and played video games with new buddies from work.

We've been visited by Nana, Joanne and Mike. Mom and Gabe came and visited for a few days during the summer. Dad and Pat came out during the fall.

I had the privilege to date a few amazing girls and even had the luck to steal a kiss now and then.

Travel:
I have made two trips to New Mexico in February and in October. One by plane and one in my car.
I made one trip to Colorado in July for Seth's wedding.
I have traveled to the four extremes of Utah. From Wendover to Moab, from Tremonton to St. George.
I flew through Las Vegas
I've gone to Moab with Jess and Sarah, and again with Jess and Bryson for jeeping.

Experiences:
My first nephew was born - Joshua Stephen Iverson
I financed a car
Performed a video voice-over
Won a costume contest
Watched my first 3D movie in theaters
Started taking voice lessons
Took an interest in the World Cup
Cheered for Sean White in the Winter Olympics
Went jeeping with Jess and got to drive off-road
Went to an NBA game
Shot a .44 magnum
Got a bad sunburn
Enrolled in college
Went wake-boarding
Started working as a bilingual
Traveled overnight on a business trip
Had periodontal surgery
Joined a band that I didn't form
Dated an actress
Danced and sang in a show
Went through a haunted house
Bought a new guitar
Stayed awake driving all night
Won a Simpson's Trivia contest

Pizza:
I've had pizza with Jess, Sarah and Alyssa, Haley, Mike and Brittney, Jordan Williams my companion from San Luis, at home with family, with Clint and Lacey, with Dad and Pat from England, with Stephen and Lynsie, and with Nick, Adrian and Alyssa at Dion's.

Fun:
I've been able to go ice-skating, potato gun shooting, wakeboarding, gift shopping, snowboarding, bicycling, camping, swimming, offroading, hiking, slip and slide at the Christensen's, played soccer, IMAX movies, jamming in a band, singing lessons, hand tossed a pizza, ran until my legs ached and burned, laughed til I cried.

 What a year...

My Mission Shoes

I said goodbye to two old friends today... I finally threw away my mission shoes. 

 I almost couldn't do it. Everyday I'd pass by and see them sitting there - dusty, cracked leather, broken laces and holes worn almost completely through the heels. They'd been sitting in a corner for almost a year now.  "I need to throw those away, I'll never wear them again. Why am I hanging on to those shoes?" I would think. I could never bring myself to do it. Those shoes went through everything with me. They sloshed through puddles and tread the stone-laid streets of Cajamarca, filled with sand in San Luis, they ran from dogs, stood on buses, chased after taxis, wore blisters into my feet and endured the hot streets of Pacasmayo, Chimbote, Chepen, Pensacola, and Guadalupe. They left footprints in the wet cement of Trujillo (stepping in wet cement is my favorite thing) as my companion and I proselyted the neighborhoods of Laureles, Palermo and Los Jardines. They sat through conferences and were cleaned up for church every Sunday. They were polished by thoughtful companions, they were re-sewn several times by zapateros. I must have gone through 5 pairs of insoles and shoe laces over those two years. 

Those shoes carried me faithfully for thousands and thousands of miles. So many doors, so many faces, so many children of God.

They were on my feet as I had the privilege of teaching the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.  As I slipped my old shoes into the trash can, I almost had a lump in my throat. I took one last picture and said goodbye. I hope to always remember:

"My life is like my shoes, to be worn out by service..." 

- President Spencer W. Kimball