Lifting Up 2012

A New year strikes again.
It seems like every year I make a goal that will instill improvement in my life. Some of my past goals have been to gain weight, run a marathon, vacation outside the U.S. And somehow each goal seems to roll on to the next year. This year I'm trying something different. I'm gonna try to help the world out a little. Instead of improving myself, My goal this year is to try to improve as many people as I can. I heard a quote today and it said "Be the change you want to see" After hearing that bit if striking imagery I'd like to post some of my goals for 2012. I can use all the help I can get, so please feel free to make them your own and spread the word.I am a member of a pretty well known church. I love my faith, however I feel that a lot of people in my ward meetings have lost sight of some things that matter most. I don't have one single close friend in my ward. Not one. There is nobody that I would feel comfortable calling up if I was having a bad day. Not a soul that I think I would want to call if I had gotten a flat tire. I consider that a problem. After all we do call each other "Brothers and sisters". I'm aiming for the people like me. The ones who are SCREAMING inside saying "HEY! There's nothing wrong with me why are you ignoring me?" I'm gonna befriend the Elders who got sent home. I'm gonna put my arm around that guy who is staring at the ground. I'm torn because I have been in those shoes.A goal of mine is to lift others up. They say to loose your burdens you must first lift up anther's. There is hurt EVERYWHERE. I'll admit, I've been a terd myself at some points. I've hurt some people by my words or actions, but improvement is my goal. I've got a yellow rubber armband that says "LIVESTRONG", A ring that says "CTR", abbreviated for Choose The Right. I'm going to make/order another band that says "Lift and Strengthen" It's gonna remind me of what I'm supposed to be and do. A true friend. If anyone wants one let me know I'm sure you gotta order like 20 or something. Lets start strengthening those feeble knees. There are broken homes, disabilities, fears, disorders, and unless you've got the magnifying glass of friendship, You'll never see it. Let's strengthen our stakes, our families, and our communities. Let's declare war on those broken homes, lonely nights, Let's make our kids have a new rule of picking teams on the playground; the kid who gets picked last goes on the winning team.
I know this sound somewhat euphoric. I know there are going to be rough days. Life happens. What I'm going for is letting it happen, but still have someone that can say "dang man, That sucks. How can I help?"

2012. Let's Strengthen.

You know when you're in my town...

You know when you're in my town...

You know you are in my town when you cross a bridge and on the other side the first thing you see is open pasture with cows, windmills, and a big church in the distance. You know it's MY town because on a Friday night all the trucks are parked around the football or baseball field, during the day, there are tractors parked in the student parking lot. When they're not playing ball, or plowing their fields, you can bet there is a bonfire out in the wash somewhere. It sounds like a country song or like a storybook, but truth is, that's really what it's like. 
You don't get much rap music thumping around here, if you do it's either Mr. Gartin or Mr. Clerc down for the weekend visiting the family. Our taste of music is the singular country station polluted with a light static, but we don't mind it. We just listen anyway. 
There's people who say the small town feel doesn't exist anymore. Well tell them to come on over and mom will bake the meanest apple pie they've ever had, and prove them wrong. 
This place is something you have to experience. I can't tell you what it's like, but if you listen to a few country songs you can get a taste of it. Kinda like a light blue faded Levi feel. It's just comfortable.