2012, A Year for Change?

First off with 2011 almost over and 2012 almost here I would like to wish all who read this blog a very Merry Christmas and a safe and joyous New Year.  The title of this update is change.  There are a few changes that I would love to make in my life next year.  Here they are, not in any particular order:

I want to make 2012 one of my final years at Walmart.  I heard a phrase on television once and it has always stuck out in my mind, "When you wake up and you hate your job, you know it is time to leave."  I will continue to look for a new job, rather than stay in this current position and be miserable.  Walmart is not a place that I want to build a career at.  

I want to continue with my education and someday receive my teaching degree(yes I have decided to stick with elementary education, my Primary calling has helped me realize this) so that I may achieve my dream and provide a good life for my family.

I want to become a father(enough said)

I want to continue to learn and grow in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and apply his teachings to my life and use them on a daily basis to help build myself and my testimony.  This includes reading my scriptures and saying my prayers on a daily basis.

I want to learn and grow in my new calling(whatever this may be).
I want to call home more often and spend a lot of time with my family whenever they come to visit me this summer.

I want to become a better person than I am now and to be a better husband to my wife and a better person to my friends and family. 

I think 2012 will be a great year for myself. 

Reflections

     I have been thinking a lot these last several days about how much my life has changed in the last few years(hence the title of the blog post Reflections).  I know that my life has changed 100% for the better.  First off I met my wonderful wife online, and then 6 months later we met in person and after that meeting I made the decision that would ultimately change my life forever...I decided to move to Alaska. 

     The decision to move to Alaska was not an easy one to make.  It meant that i would have to leave my home in Pennsylvania.  I would have to leave the place and people that I grew up with.  I would have to leave my "comfort zone" and spread my wings to a whole new place, to a whole new world of opportunities.  When I made the decision to leave my family, my job, my friends and move to Alaska I did after much prayer.  Besides, who better to ask for advice than Heavenly Father? 
    
     The only person I knew really knew in Alaska was the woman who would eventually become my wife.  Moving to Alaska has allowed me to become a much better person than I was before.  I work for Walmart and I am a department manager there, something that I never knew I could do back at home.  My faith in Heavenly Father and my religion has strengthened so much.  I have a firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I have made several new friends, from co-workers to church, to people who were already friends with my wife(A shout out to you Libby!)  Most of all, I have an amazing wife who I got sealed to for time and eternity in the temple(http://www.lds.org/temples) on January 8, 2011.  I also have a new amazing family whom I all love and care for very much.  From my wifes parents(who are both simply amazing) to all of my brother and sister in-laws.  They are all amazing people will always hold a special place in my heart.

    
     I miss all of my family and friends back at home in Pennsylvania.  I know that I can always go back home and visit.  My heart is wherever my wife is at, and currently that place is Alaska.  I have truly gained so much since making the decision to move to Alaska 2 year ago.  My life has been so greatly blessed becasue of it.  As I sit here typing this and reflecting on the past, I cannot help but also reflect on what the future will bring me.
   

An Apostles Visit

   
     One of the Lord's apostles is coming to Alaska and I cannot wait to see him in person.  Jeffrey R. Holland(http://lds.org/church/leader/jeffrey-r-holland?lang=eng) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is coming to Alaska to speak at a special Stake Conference on November 6.  I have never seen an apostle of the Lord in person and this could be my one and only opportunity so as the days draw closer to the impending date I am becoming more and more excited or what could be this once in a lifetime opportunity.  My wife and her family have seen apostles before and I am extremely jealous, so this is my chance.  I do not know what Elder Holland will be speaking about, but I know from listening to talks from him in the past that the talk he will be giving at this special stake conference will be a very good talk.  I know that Elder Holland is a true apostle from God on the earth today, just like in days past and I look forward with anticipation to seeing this true and living apostle in person on November 6.

Pennsylvania will have a temple

     President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Philadelphia, PA temple on September 17, 2011.  I will say that this is a day that I have been waiting for a long time now ever since this temple was announced in the October 2008 General Conference.  Even though I am not from Philadelphia, I have been waiting for my home state of Pennsylvania to finally have a temple of it's own.  In 2014 this will come to fruition once the temple is finished and dedicated. 

       A lot of church history happened in my home state.  Emma Smith is from Pennsylvania, the Priesthood was restored in my home state, and parts of the Book of Mormon were translated there, along with some early convert baptisms along the banks of the Susquehana River.  Pennsylvania is a state rich with church history and in the coming years to come more history will be made with the building and the dedication of the state's very first temple. 

     Who knows, maybe someday when the temple has it's open house I would love to fly back to Pennsylvania and go through it.  I have never been to an open house of a temple.

 

Career Change(s)?

Recently I have had a lot of topics on my mind. Most of this has to do with my current job and my future profession. I am very unhappy with my current job working at Walmart. I feel that this is a company that I cannot be at any longer, or even make a career out of. I know plenty of people will probably tell me otherwise, but I am talking about my own experiences here. Now married and wanting to start a family sometime in the future I know I need to seek better employment. I have already put some applications in other places and recently had a job interview with Alaska USA Federal Credit Union. I hope that I get this job and it leads me to bigger and better things in life. I want to work for a company that values and respects their employees.

Now as for my next career change...Well this is another thing that I am confused about in a big way. All of my life I have grown up wanting to become a school teacher. Until recently this has now changed. I have simply lost my desire to be a school teacher. The passion is gone, I have lost it and do not know where to find it. So now here I am left all confused and also to ponder as to which career I will finally decide upon. Let's be clear here, I am 33 years old, which means I am not getting any younger here. I think everytime I have a career decided upon, I decide that this is not the career for me. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated as to what career Ishould look into and how I should finally decide on a career.

Ear Surgery

Yesterday on July 8, 2011 I underwent ear surgery. It was outpatient surgery. I was at the surgery center by 7 am and home by 1 pm. It all started when I had an earache the last day of vacation back in May. A few days later with my ear hurting really bad I went to a 24 hour health clinic. The clinic said that I had too much wax build-up inside my ear so they decided to do a ear irrigation(in the very same ear in 2002 I had a ruptured ear drum).

Needless to say when the water was shot into my ear with the tube I believe that is what caused an even bigger problem. The pain I felt from the water(the nurse shot the water into my ear 2 times) is pain I would not even wish upon my worst enemy if I had a worst enemy. My ear felt good for a little while but it then started to hurt again. I finally was able to go to a great ear doctor who looked at my ear and said that I had a 25percent hole in my left ear drum.

I was basically given 2 options. I could not do anything about it and live with the hole in my ear drum and possibly risk further damage to my ear in the future or get surgery done and try to regain some of the hearing back in my ear which I have already lost. For myself, the decision was an easy one. I decided to get the surgery. The surgery was then scheduled for 10 days later.

Yesterday I had my surgery done. I honestly do not remember much. I was very tired from the anesthesia. I remember waking up around 10:30 am and wanting to throw up. I then slept for a little while more and then came home. Even though it was out-patient surgery, I was still scared. I asked the 2 missionaries who are serving in my ward for a priesthood blessing, which they much obliged. The blessing did calm my fears a bit but did not take my fears away completely. I am thankful for the missionaries for coming by my house and giving me the blessing.

Now I am off work for 2 weeks while I wait for my ear to heal. I am thankful for my ear doctor for helping me, along with all of the nurses at the surgery center for their wonderful care. I am most thankful for my loving wife for without her love and support and taking care of me I would not make it through this whole ordeal.

The sacred Grove

I went to where the prophet stood

I walked his very steps

And in my heart I knew the good

Brought by the Lords concepts

I seemed to feel his very soul

It merged intent with mine

The tempests 'round me seemed to lull

Through sacred peace divine

I felt assured of love and grace

As well as knowledge learned,

I did not see his very face

But my heart no longer yearned

The Holy Spirit's loving arms

Were wrapped around so tight

That all the worldly wealth and charms

Couldn't touch with their fake might

This Gospel means so much to me

Faith growing each new day

That though Christ lived across the sea

He forged for me the way

My heart's been touched by holy hands

The tender seed caressed

When I walk through this sacred land

I know I have been blessed.

My Vacation Report

I recently went home to Pennsylvania with my wife and her parents. While there we also turned it into a big trip. We started out flying into Washington DC. We took a bus tour and visited a lot of the sites to see in our nations capital. I highly recommend if you get the chance, go and check it out. From there we went to the Washington DC LDS temple. While we did not get to go inside the temple for a session(time was not permitting) we did get to walk the ground and visit the visitor's center. One could definitely feel the spirit while walking the temple grounds.

After Washington DC we made our way up to my home town. It was truly wonderful to visit my family and see my parents and nephews and niece. While there my in-laws met my family because my family was not able to make it up to Alaska for my wedding. We made a wonderful dinner, went out to dinner and even made a trip to the zoo. We also just spent some time hanging out and relaxing and my in-laws got to know my parents better. A joyous time was had by all. I had a wonderful vacation and I am so glad that my in-laws were able to come with us and share in this great experience.

After we left we made our way to historic Kirtland, OH. We toured the Kirtland Temple and then met a wonderful set of senior missionaries who gave us a tour of some church sites in Kirtland, OH. Bro. and Sister Steele were wonderful giudes and I could feel their testimony radiate from them. Seeing where the church expanded in the 1830's and the first temple in this dispensation was a wonderful event.

From Kirtland we went to Niagara Falls. This beautiful place was awesome to see and I will never forget it. After leaving there we made our way to Palmyra, NY. I fell in love with this town from the moment I saw it. I even would like to move there some day. In Palmyra I saw the early beginnings of the church and the sacrifices that went into bringing the gospel to what it is today. I visited the Joseph Smith log cabin home, The Palmyra temple, the Peter Whitmer home where the church was formed, EB Grandin publishing offices where the Book of Mormon was first published. Most importantly, I visited the Sacred Grove. I truly felt the spirit while I was walking there and I know that in this grove a 14 year old boy named Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and his son after a prayer. My testimony of this is now stronger.

From there we went to historic Gettysburg, PA. We visited the hallowed Civil War battle fields. I have nothing but respect for these soldiers who risked their lives defending something that they believed in. To walk on a Civil War battle field is truly an awe inspiring event.

Update

Here is a small update on the happenings in my life:
Married life is wonderful. I am so lbessed to have found the love of my life. I am grateful that we have been able to be sealed in the temple which means we can be together in the after life.
I received a job promotion at work. I am now a department manager. Everything is a bit chaotic right now because we are prepping for inventory at our store. I am trying to learn to the best of my ability. I have the confidence that I will succeed in this new position.
School is coming along good. Except for my new biology class. Biology has never been one of my strong subjects like history has been. I am trying my best in the class, that is all I can do.
I am going home in May for another visit. I cannot wait for this. I will get to see my family once again, as well as my friends. I even get to meet my new niece and nephew who were born last June. This is all for now. Talk to you again next month.

Family

Since I recently got married a month ago I have been thinking a lot about my family. The one I currently have to my future family. Now don't get me wrong, I love my wife and living in Alaska, but I do miss my family and friends back home. I miss my parents and my nephews and my niece. I even miss my old job and my former co-workers at Giant Eagle. I am going back home for a visit in May. This is something that means a lot to me and I look forward to this visit with much anticipation. The reason why I have decided to write about family is because I do realize that someday my worst fear is going to come true. Being up here I know that someday I am going to get that telephone call letting me know that something has happened to my parents.

This morning when I woke up there was a text message from my mother letting me know that her cancer has returned. I talked to her later in the day and she told me that her doctors let her know that they caught the cancer early enough and with some chemo treatment the cancer will go back into remission. I am very grateful to hear this news, however it does not alleviate any of my worries. I know that with each passing day I have less time to visit with her and my father. I talk to my parents often on the telephone but it does not take away from not seeing them in person. I urge anyone who does not live near their family to call them often , or even just once and let them know how much you miss them and love them. Family is one of the most important blessings we have in our lives. Once they are gone, what do we have left?

I'm Married!!!!!

You read the title of this post correct. Beverli and I were married on January 8, 2011 in the Anchorage, AK temple. The sealing was very beautiful and emotional for the both of us. Her family was in attendance and I had a few people there. The sealer who performed the ceremony was the same person who set my wife apart as a missionary in 2001. The words he spoke to us before he announced us as husband and wife were very beautiful. I still keep them in my mind and my heart and will always forever. My new wife could not have suggested anyone better to marry us in my opinion. Brother Christian is a man I have the utmost respect for and will now always consider him a very close and personal friend.

I am glad that I am now sealed to my wife and we have the opportunity to be together as husband and wife forever. Everytime I look at my wedding ring it reminds me of the promises we made together in the temple during the sealing ceremony. Let me end this post with my favorite scripture verse...It is Ruth 1:16...
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where though lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God.

New Year...New Resolutions

Hello All,
This will be a very short post. This Saturday, January 8, 2011 I will be getting married. I never thought this day would come in my life. Now that the day is almost here I actually cannot believe it. I am going to marry the most wonderful woman in the world and I cannot wait to spend eternity with her.

Since it is a new year I thought I will make a couple new year resolutions:

1. Read the scriptures every night.
2. Attend the temple regulary.
3. Try and not watch so much wrestling.(I doubt I can keep this one)
4. To do my best in my school studies.
5. To attend church regulary and all of my callings(if I receive any in my new ward)