LATE night reading

I became overwhelmed this past night reading out of the BoM. The only reason that I stopped reading was because I had to get up for classes and we are going to be traveling late into the night. But I could not stop reading. I started around 11pm reading to Aimee out loud to help her sleep and to let me get in the bit of reading for the day. I even had taken three percocet due to my surgery giving me trouble so I wud be able to sleep without the nagging pain. I stopped at 3:10 am.
I read from the beggining of 2 Nephi to Jacob 1:1. About 30 chapters. I was guilty of my constant cross referncing the entire time but I loved it. I had been at the church earlier in the night helping watch some of the kids at nursery with Rob Taber. I began talking with him and an Elder there about fellowshipping a young man and also helping the missionaries on splits in the future. I believe that this is where the burning desire erupted deep within me. (Also the Rockstar drink and Rockstar gum that I was chewing while watching the kids helped keep me up as well FYI)
I highlighted so much and made various notes. One of the biggest things for me. Which stuck out in my mind was the idea that (2 Nephi 29:13) that we will receive more scripture from some unknown location before the second coming of Jesus Christ. As I read over this area I highlighted it because it really hit to me. (Lost tribes)
I believe that this marks the longest non-stop reading from the scriptures that I have ever experienced.

So Life happens...

So I started my goal to read the BoM. And I wanted to post the progress here on this blog. And I actually have a follower, Liz. Bravo to you Liz for taking an interest in this sad little blog of my thoughts and interests.

Now that I am done thanking my one (1) follower.

I had surgery. I had torn a bunch of ligaments in my right hand, I am right handed, during the Florida State game this past November. So just about 2 weeks ago I had the surgery that I have needed since November. I have been out of commission, from posting on the blog and in my journal. I just now have gotten on my hard cast and my pain is minimal so I can write/type with far greater ease than before.

So I have had plenty sleepless nights lately. Usually when I hit the sheets I am out in 15/20 minutes TOPS! But lately, I have been up till 12 am, 1, 2, sometimes 3 am. I am not sure what it is, but I certainly has helped in my goal to read! Not only have I been feeling the motivation to read whenever I can, but I find myself listening and reading on a constant basis... to anything really. (Mormon that is)

So as of right now I am on 1 Nephi 21.

I would be further along but I have a terrible habit. This habit consists of cross referencing. Since the majority of the time I am reading while I am in bed I am reading the BoM on my ipod touch. (Thanks to the awesome app that I have) It has great links and cross referencing abilities and is lightening quick! So I see a word in BLUE and it will be something like 'moon", and I think, hmmm what about the moon could be found elsewhere. So it leads me to Abraham and I catch myself reading all of Abraham! It is absolutely terrible. I get side tracked all the time!

So while I am only on Nephi 21, I have read almost all of the Pearl of Great and Price and a significant part of D & C. Haha.

On top of my obsession with reading the BoM in the late of the night my new obsession is John Dehlin, and his podcasts. I am only on his Mormon Matters Podcast 2, but so far I really really enjoy it. So I will continue to add my opinion on John Dehlin as time goes on.

The Dog Park

So my wife and I have been taking our black lab Lucy to the dog park ever sense she was a little puppy. She is a VERY passive doggy and always has been. When bigger or meaner dogs would come up to her she would immediately fall onto her back and show them her tummy.

It has been nice because we would also see dog's who would do the exact opposite at the park and pretty much attack and harass every dog at the park, and we were so glad that our dog doe not do that.

So my wife and I went to the store the other day, Lucy has started to take a strong affinity towards Frisbees, so we wanted to get her a Frisbee that was more durable than the $1 ones would would get her from Petsmart. So we got her the indestructible, super duper red Frisbee. We came right back to the house and we were like WE'RE GOIN TO THE PARK!

We loaded up all our stuff and got to the park and immediately Lucy loved the new Frisbee (She loves new toys as it is, but this was a new red Frisbee toy) So we were playing for about 10 minutes and I noticed a dog slowly creepin over to where we were playing. I was not sure what the breed of the dog was, but it was comparable to Lucy, just a little shorter. So I started to throw the frisbee, Lucy would run over to grab it and then this new dog, we'll call him Fred, Fred would come over to Lucy (after she had already grabbed the frisbee) and steal the frisbee from her. This happened about 10-15 times and Lucy seemed to think that it was more of a game. I'm thinkin, jeez take some initiative and stop letting that stupid dog take your new toy! But she needs to learn.

Fred made a mistake. On like the 20th throw Fred was under the impression that this new red frisbee was HIS new red frisbee. It is Lucy's new red frisbee. Fred steals the frisbee from Lucy and then takes off the other direction. Lucy, FINALLY, took some initiative and went over to Fred to take her frisbee back. (Here is where Fred made the mistake) Fred growled at Lucy. Then Fred snapped his teeth and bit at Lucy.

I gave you the little synopsis at the beginning of this to show you what the typical Lucy would do in this situation. But this was no ordinary situation, this was the new red frisbee.

Lucy kicks back onto her hind legs. (A dad has never been prouder of this moment that I am about to describe to you, so pay attention) She kicks back onto her hind legs, slams her front paws on top of Fred (pinning Fred to the ground) and then started to bite at his face. All of this happened within a matter of a couple of seconds.

The other dogs owner ran over, my wife started to head over, and there I was. Standing the closest out of everybody with a smile in my heart. And probably on my face too. My little girl was growing up. The other owner grabbed his dog and apologized and what not (hence it was Fred that started this little tiffle) I said that it was no problem, of course it wasn't a problem, my dog just bitch slapped your dog.

She showed teeth. Growled. And beat the crap out of good 'ol Fred.

My little girl got into her first fight. She fought for what was hers.

Funny enough we didn't leave the park and neither did Fred. But Fred stopped bothering Lucy the rest of the time.

A great day at the dog park.

Read the BoM

I normally am I able to keep a Journal, but after my recent surgery it hurts to write with a pen and I do not write well enough to try to mark up my Journal with my left handed nonsense. So,tentatively I am going to keep an abridged version on here on what I find interesting (spiritual bias)

My goal is going to be to read the Book of Mormon all the way through.

We have friends whos goal is to read it before their baby is born, I like this, so I am going to steal this goal.
They had been talking about this goal lately, and the chit chat never sparked the interest for me to think, Oh hey I should do that! It was not until tonight I was listening to some general conference talks and a female speaker (October 2005 conference: Do not know the day, or session) But it was probably around the 45 minute mark. And she mentioned how the prophet has asked the members of the church to read the BoM (Book of Mormon) all the way through before the end of the year... and bam, just like that I had the sensation that I should do that too. This is not a new or novel idea, prophets my entire life have talked about having this goal ... not just the prophets, pretty much everybody says you should read the BoM all the way through ... shoot, read it everyday is really what they say ... but I digress.

So I started tonight. I went onto lds.org and read and listened to the Introduction. Leading all the way up to Nephi 1:1.

Title Page
Introduction
The Testimony of Three Witnesses
The Testimony of Eight Witnesses
Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith
A Brief Explanation about The Book of Mormon

I want to try and read/listen everyday. That is the goal anyways. My end date is going to be August 27, 2010 (Baby due date) ... but hopefully I will be finished before then.

Surgery

I got surgery on my thumb. I tore it all up in the Florida State game this past season. So I have not been able to post too much lately. Hurts the 'ol hand to type. But I got some cool photos and stuff from the surgery that I am going to put up to share with the 1 person that has commented on the blog so far.

So for you and me buddy.

I know you can hardly wait.

I was also curious who this phantom comment-or is?

We may never know . . .

Flip

I am Very excited about my new camcorder I just got! It is the Flip Ultra ... pretty excited about it because the baby is coming and we will be able to make a lot of videos of the little one and of us so we can share with everyone! Enjoy.

The Droid

The Droid. I am obsessed. I was obsessed about 2 months ago. My plan for Verizon finally comes to a complete on February 16 and I will be able to go and get the 2-year price for the DROID. I have researched it, played with it at the stores (multiple times a week), I am ready. Between the 5 megapixel camera it has, double flash, android processor and widgets I hope it takes me a week to figure out all the sweet stuff it is capable of doing. I have added a coutdown calender in honor of the Droid at the bottom of the page. (Thank you for all the comments from those of you that have noticed) I am very excited about it.

I will be sure to come back with a full review of what I think and the various things that I figure out as I go. As I learn, you will learn, now enough with all the questions about it already. I will fill you in as time goes on.