Thesis Proposal

Interesting what we do with our time, isn't it?!?! Thanks for the videos!

I'm presenting my thesis proposal next Wednesday, December 17th. The title is "The Relationship between Mental Toughness and Performance in Collegiate Basketball Players." If anyone is interested in reading my very large document, let me know. :) I'm quite relieved that I have it done, but the proposal will be a little - okay, more than a little - intimidating. I have a great thesis advisor, though, and she will help me be prepared.

I hope finals are going well for everyone!

This is a MUCH better YouTube video. Yeah!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb3UrJjAac4&eurl

One of the greatest, yet most retarded cartoons to behold...

I give you Charlie the Unicorn and the Adventures of Candy Mountain...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5im0Ssyyus



WARNING: Watching this video may result in one or more of the following side effects: nausea, diarrhea, hallucination, advanced paranoia, clinical depression, striking brain damage, fear of static and fur, inability to drive, inability to talk, probability to arrest and dry mouth.

I'd like to introduce you to my nephew...

Hey all! I hope your Thanksgiving was great. I had an amazing time with my family. Since most of you will never have the opportunity to meet my family, I'd like to introduce you to my cute nephew, Corbin. He turns 2 in February 2009, but he's already talking like crazy. Here's a couple videos of him from last week.

On Thanksgiving Day we were staying at our condo in Moosehollow and I sat in the hot tub that evening and looked at the stars. It was super relaxing. We had my entire family there - my two sisters who are married with their husbands and sons (Lincoln and Corbin). I got to hold Lincoln for the first time. Here is a picture of him (a video wouldn't have been that exciting because he just sleeps and eats and grunts).

Here are some other random photos of my break!

Turkey day!!

Happy Thanksgiving ya'll!!!!! Get that turkey done right or ham or whatever you use or prefer on this awesome day of blessed tastey goodness...
- I am thankful for friends.

A Brand New Bicycle

I loved Mark's lesson tonight. I'm so grateful for the atonement. I love that I can learn new things about the gospel and get reminders of truths I've known for a while. The parable of the bicycle has always been one of those good parables that just "made sense" to me and I've embraced it as a great illustration of the how the atonement works in my life. Recently I've been really overwhelmed with school and with life in general, and that process tends to bring out my shortcomings even more strongly. Hearing the talk tonight from Brad Wilcox really added a new dimension of understanding to my knowledge of the atonement. I loved this part of the talk where the Bishop visits the returned missionary at his apartment:


The young man said, “I thought it was like buying a bike. I pay all I can and then Jesus
pays the rest.” I said, “I love Brother Robinson’s parable. He has helped us all see that there are two essential parts that must be completed, but I think of it more like this: Jesus already
bought the whole bike. The few coins he asks from me are not so much to help pay for
the bike, but rather to help me value it and appreciate it.”

I am so thankful that the Savior has already "bought my bicycle" so to speak. I don't have to feel the weight of my shortcomings and weaknesses as long as I am faithfully repenting and offering my few coins.

I also love the idea of using the phrase "an inexhaustible Atonement." I was particularly impressed by this as well because I find myself repenting for the shortcomings I have quite frequently (my learning curve is obviously not very steep). Here's what he said in the talk:


Our friend Brett Sanders once pointed out a lesson to be learned when a new priest is
blessing the sacrament. He is nervous and messes up when reading the prayer. He
knows the prayers have to be perfect and that expectation can’t be lowered. So what
happens when the priest makes a mistake? He looks at the bishop, who nods his head
and the priest simply begins again. What if he stumbles a second time or a third? Does
he finally just give up or is there a trap door that opens and he falls through? No. He just
starts again. How many times? As many times as it takes to get it right...

Perhaps that is a good word for the Atonement as well—the inexhaustible Atonement. We hear many words associated with the Atonement. We hear it is infinite, eternal, everlasting, perfect, divine, incomprehensible, inexplicable, and even personal and individual. However, there is another word that must be more closely associated with the Atonement if we are ever
going to be able to maintain hope in this world full of addictions. And that word is continuous—the continuous Atonement.

Great lesson, Mark. I guess you'd better watch out because a good lesson can only mean one thing - another assignment for the lesson soon! :)

Have a good night everyone...

Am I really here?? =O

Can it be true that I am apart of an internet blog now? Oh my, what wills I evers does!! =D

Fireside Report

The fireside in Nauvoo last night was good- for a presentation. It was presented by the Single Adult rep from Fort Madison. She gave a wonderful presentation about how to use our talents to serve others. She had several objects on a table and called up volunteers to take something from the table to explain how they could use their talents and help others. For example, Brandon chose some pliers and said he could help someone fix their bicycle if the chain came off. It was a good presentation and she focused on some good principles. However, it was just that- a presentation.

We (Brandon, Amanda and I) had a discussion about this on the way home. The last few firesides have not been very spiritually oriented, which is what I want when I attend them. I go for the spiritual nourishment, but have been kind of disappointed the last several firesides.

Just so everyone knows, our ward has the responsibility for the fireside in February, which will be February 8th. We were throwing around some ideas on the way home...well, I guess I was just spewing out random thoughts. We thought of doing a musical fireside, using all the musical talents in the ward and possible other wards in the stake. We also thought that maybe it would be neat to have President and Sister Peterson (the Temple President and matron) to speak. We have some connection with them because they are Sister Connelly's parents. Any other ideas?

Another thing about the February fireside is that it's the first one that will NOT have a single adult rep meeting beforehand. They thought that since we do have this change it may detract from the number of people who attend if it's not "something special." They just wanted us to keep that in mind while planning. We'll have to kick around some ideas next time we get together.

So ... we didn't make it to Nauvoo for the fireside last night. Who spoke, and what was it about?

On the other hand, Susanne baked some especially fine cookies yesterday. Alas, there probably won't be any left by tomorrow evening.

Welcome One and All!

I thought this might be a fun way to interact with others in the YSA group. I had never done a blog until this past summer and now I really enjoy it. It's a great way to keep in touch and share thoughts and experiences. Please contribute as often or as little as you want (some people just like to read). This will be what you make it! Let's get it started...