Friday, November 2, 2007

HOME

I know the day and time when I am coming home. I'm so excited! Friday, February 15 at 10:45 pm. How freaking exciting is that? Only 3 more months!

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Stupid

Boys are stupid. Ok, not all boys and not all the time but yeah. It's just confusing I guess. So every Thursday the missionaries have an English class at our little building for anyone around that wants to learn English. I go every week, because they invited me not because I need to learn English, but I'm the only one besides the missionaries that ever goes. It's probably breaking lots of rules but who cares, they don't have anything to do now that it's so dark so early and I have nothing to do so why not do nothing together. We usually talk about things like school, friends back home, crazy Germans, weird people they meet and things like that. It's a lot of fun and it's one of the two things I look forward to every week, the other being institute.
So I just got back from this weeks "lesson" and I don't know what to think about it. First off I have to say Elder S was replaced by a German guy who knows English but hardly said anything tonight. Elder B and I were talking about normal stuff, but every once in a while it would get to the topic of dating. Probably just because this is his last transfer which means he's going home in December and he was talking about not wanting to start dating again or get married any time soon. Since I'm thinking about going to USU and he's going to BYU-I he said he would come down and hang out with me (which he's said before) but then when we were talking about dating he told me I was going to be like an RM and get married right when I get home and I told him I've only been on 4 or 5 dates he said he would take me on a date, something fun and cheap.
Now I'm just all sorts of confused. Elder B is a really cool guy and someone I could see me hanging out with. I'm just not used to having all these guys around. In high school I was never really interested in dating but now that I'm older and priorities have changed a little I'm starting to "notice" guys more. Too bad the only ones I ever talk to all have the first same name. I guess it's just preparing me for going back home and finally entering the dating scene. But hey, at least I have a date if I decide to go to USU.

Support the Troops

If the Red shirt thing is new to you, read below...

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

"No" he responded.

"Heading out" I asked?

"No. I'm escorting a soldier home."

"Going to pick him up?"
"No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq, I'm taking him home to his family."

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, "Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do."

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom."Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American. So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.

Red Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that .. every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a home coming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is "We need your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

To Write Love On Her Arms

http://www.twloha.com/

Read it. Love it. Embrace it.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Monday, October 29, 2007

Failure

So Sunday I found out that Elder S is getting transferred this week. It's pretty lame but maybe a good thing. Maybe I'll forget about him since I won't be seeing him all the time. That's usually how it goes when I have crushes on people. Absence does not make the heart grow fonder. Any way, we got our picture taken together after church and then my guest mom was rushing me so much I didn't really have time to think. I just shook his hand and told him to have fun on the rest of his mission and then he said that we'd probably still hear about each other because he'll talk to Elder B, the one that's staying in the ward here. (Does that mean anything?) It wasn't until I had walked out and wondered if I would ever see him again that I remembered I never gave him any contact info. If my guest mom hadn't seemed to be in such a rush I would have gone back in but she kept telling the kids to hurry and what not so I just went to the car and drove away. And that's the end of the story. Or is it?