How to keep People Following?

People constantly check facebook, right? But do people constantly check blogs or do they quit? This post is a test to see if twitterfeed sends my new blog posts as status updates on facebook and new tweets on twitter. Keep fingers crossed for automation!

Dandelions!

A collection of Dandelion photographs from Iowa. Vote in the comments on

your favorite!

Tribute to Tiana

This is my beautiful friend Tiana. Tonight I texted to her to let her know how great I think she is. She called me a few minutes later and we had an awesome time catching up. As I walked into my apartment, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude and love. Tiana became a friend to me last fall when I needed one most. She is an incredibly caring, thoughtful, happy, wonderful, spiritual person. When I have lacked faith, she has reminded me to look to Christ. When I have doubted my abilities, she has bolstered my confidence. And when I'm 2,300 miles from almost everyone I know, she is there with a phone call. Tiana is getting married next month and I can't help but smile when I think about it. From talking to her and reading her blog, I can tell she has fallen in love with an amazing guy and I can tell she is so happy. I wish I could be there at her wedding but I know it will be a beautiful day for the two of them. I'm so excited for the two of them! Check out their beautiful photos at http://tianajeppsen.blogspot.com. I'm grateful to have a friend like Tiana. I know she truly cares about me and about my happiness. I know she will always be there. I'm blessed to have such a good friend. Thanks T.

A Broken Neck and a Gift of Life

I was 4 1/2 years old. This is what I remember. I was tired and my mother was just finishing up at a department store in Salt Lake. Ironically, I don't even know what it was called. I walked over and started turning a large jewelry rack, revealing dangling earrings and necklaces. Due to a simple human failure to secure the two blocks together, the large, heavy block fell over on top of my little boy body. It was probably the whiplash from hitting the ground that broke my neck. X-rays of my head came back clear. My neck wasn't imaged. A couple weeks passed. My neck muscles tensed up so tight that I couldn't turn my head. The doctor's said there was just some lingering issues from the trauma.

Finally we went back to Primary Children's for more x-rays. This time they checked my neck. This time they found the fracture. The next day I had 4 screws in my head, a hal0, and a vest with bars securing the whole fancy system in place. I don't even know how long I was in the halo. I think I should get more details. I think it was 3 months? I remember all the cards that came to the hospital. I remember playing Nintendo there as well. I remember being stared at wherever I went. I remember being loved by my family.

Why did I survive? Why did I not become a paraplegic or a quadriplegic? Why was I spared so that I could live a completely normal and functional life? I can run, swim, jump, bike, ski, wakeboard, play sports, write, think, and live. Other people suffer injuries and aren't so fortunate. Why?

I don't know what my Heavenly Father has in store for me but I hope to live up to it. I have the scars on my head to remind me of the miracle. I am grateful for the chance at life that He gave me. Angels really were there to sustain and protect me. I'm grateful to Dr. Walker who was my surgeon through it all. I can't ever repay my Heavenly Father. But I can try to pay it forward. I can try to be ready to marry one day. I can be a good dad. I can find ways to help others. I can try to bear another's burden. I'm lucky. I'm blessed. And I want to never forget that.

Iowa Camping!

Marshmallow Roasting Lessons

Wet dandelions don't blow away so well...

Peace to you too, Noah!

BEAUTIFUL BOY!

EASTER!

We went to St. George for Easter weekend and had a blast!

Cristy and Julie Ann's fingers turned black from dying eggs!

But resulted in beautifully colored eggs!

Someone liked the plastic eggs a little better...

And baby food!

And....a little someone discovered the high powered faucet on the back of the house!

I love my family.

Finals Week

The inevitable is nearly here.
I have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
5 classes. 5 finals. 5 days.
Survival Rate = 64%

Bring it on.

Random Pics from Spring Break 2010

I've been meaning to do a post on Mexico Spring Break 2010. Here's one. There were so many of The Crew that I decided to put pictures of random things. What do ya think?

 

This is an Iguana...in case you've never been to a zoo.

 

One tight Mexican child.

 

Sunset

 

Chichen Itza

 

The 'staches!

Spring = Biking

I'm stoked for Spring. I'm stoked to ride more this year then I ever have in my life. I'm excited to see places on my bike that I've never seen before. I'm excited to ride longer and harder. I'm excited for the semester to end so I have time. Here was a ride I fit in last night.

Random Facts about Tickets

Is it any wonder why we hate cops?.....Ticket Facts.