Thank You, Jon Schmidt

The very first time I remember being impressed with Jon Schmidt was when I was in high school and I heard his song "Love Story Meets Viva La Vida" on Youtube. At the time, I was impressed with what I thought was a neat song, and then pleasantly surprised when I realized that this guy was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints like me. I had no idea that in the coming years, this individual would touch my testimony and bless my life in many ways.

The first time my testimony was strengthened by Jon Schmidt was my freshman year of college. On the eve of their Piano Guys days, Jon and his friend, Steven Sharp Nelson, came to BYU to perform. Amid a rough freshman year, this concert was a ray of light. That evening I laughed, cheered, and teared up from the uplifting spirit in the room. I realized that Jon wasn't just a good musician, but that he was a good person, using his talents for good things. That evening I wrote in my journal that I was "so grateful for [his] sacrifices so that [he] could be the vessel that God and Jesus Christ use to make their children happy." At that concert Jon Schmidt helped me feel that every good thing comes from God, and he also planted within me a desire to, like him, use my talents to bring others closer to Christ.

Several years later, I was again impressed with the character of Jon Schmidt as The Piano Guys participated in a face to face event for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Though what all the members of this group said was inspiring, Jon's words stood out to me the most. As he spoke about being a husband, giving his life over to the Lord, and always being connected with God, I felt my own testimony and faith grow. After watching that video, I walked away pondering on the thoughts he had shared, and felt a desire to be good and faithful like him. Again, this stranger's life had touched mine.

And now, a little less than a month ago, my testimony has been strengthened one more time by the Schmidt family. When I heard that their daughter, Annie, had gone missing in the woods in Oregon, I was shocked. I began to pray in earnest morning and evening for the recovery of this girl whom I didn't even know, but whose father had touched my life so much. I just wanted the family to have closure. I just wanted them to have peace.

When at first rescuers couldn't find Annie's body, Michelle Schmidt, Annie's mom, shared this beautiful testimony:

"We have been unable to find our sweet daughter’s body at this time. But these things we know. We know that Heavenly Father has heard the countless prayers and combined faith exercised by people literally all over the world. We know He has heard us, and if He choses to not show us where to find her, then we trust that there is a purpose in this. We know we are in His hands. We know He loves us and everyone who has reached out in such kindness and support. We can feel peace in putting our lives in His hands and pray that His purposes will be fulfilled in this whole experience."

As I read these words, I realized with gratitude that the Schmidt family was giving, as Jon already has for years with his music, everything over to the Lord. Even something as personal and heartbreaking as losing a loved one, they were using as an opportunity to proclaim to the world that God lives, is real, and loves us.

This morning I discovered that searchers believe they have found Annie's body. Once again, I read the testimony the Schmidt family posted on the Piano Guys blog, and once again I was touched.

I know I will never meet Jon Schmidt or his family, but just because I will never meet them in person does not mean that I do not feel an extreme sense of love and gratitude for them for how they have blessed my life. Their Christ-like examples, testimony, and faith have touched my heart and drawn me closer to Christ.

So thank you, Jon Schmidt, for all that you and your family do, believe, and are, and know that in addition to bringing people good music, that you have also brought strangers like me closer to Christ. You are an amazing example of someone who lives a consecrated life, and an example I hope to follow.

5 Reasons to Learn About Mormons from Mormons

Events over the past decade—from Mitt Romney running for president to the debut of the Broadway musical, “The Book of Mormon,”—have brought the Mormon church and its members into the spotlight. If you are not a member, these and other events may have caused you to pause to wonder what it is, exactly, that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe. You may have wondered why members do not drink coffee, why female members do not receive the priesthood, or why members believe that marriage should be defined as a union between a man and a woman. Many people turn to sources outside the church to find answers to questions like these. However, a better way to receive answers to questions about what Mormons believe is to ask the members themselves. Below are just five reasons why. 

Reason #1: If You Want Answers, You Should Go to the Source

There is a lot of information about the church that circulates among people who are not members; some of which is true, some of which is half true, and some of which is not true at all. Individuals sincerely interested in learning about the doctrine of the gospel will find that truth comes more fully and completely when asking someone who lives, believes, and studies the gospel every day. People on the outside can only tell you how things appear. Members, on the other hand, can tell you how things are.


Reason #2: Many Outside Sources Have Never Tried It Out

There are many sources out there who label The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as disgusting, bigoted, cult-like, and false; but many of these sources have never truly tasted of the doctrine for themselves. These sources can provide you with copious lists of Mormon doctrines and Mormon dos and don'ts, but many of them cannot tell you what it is like to live as a member of the church and to believe the doctrine. Members, on the other hand, can.

Reason #3: Accounts of Less Active Members Miss the Spirit of the Gospel

In other cases, some outside sources stem from people who used to be members, but no longer believe. These individuals have just as much right to share their opinion as anyone. However, the bitterness and hostility often found in these accounts lack the fundamental principles of love, patience, and faith that the gospel is built upon. Yes—these individuals’ stories are real, and yes—of course these individuals matter. However, before banking all your buck on these accounts, consider that their experiences may be influenced by misunderstandings, disagreements, or hurt feelings, none of which are the intended outcome for members who live the gospel earnestly.


Reason #4: Members Can Testify of the Blessings of Membership

On the other hand, active and participating members of the church can offer you accounts rich with pure and earnest testimony about what they believe and why they believe it is true.. Make no mistake—Mormon members are not lacking in experiences of heart-ache, loss, confusion, and doubt. But what the members of the church can tell you that many online sources cannot is how living the principles of the gospel have helped them pull through it all. Amid difficult circumstances, trials of faith, losses of loved ones, tears of heartache, and pleas to know if God is there, there are millions of members across the world who can powerfully testify that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true because they have called upon the gospel’s principles when it really mattered, and their faith pulled them through.


Reason #5: It Might Actually Be True

With all the wonderful things that members of the church believe—from the sacred and eternal nature of families, to clean slates and second chances, to a God who loves and knows us all—it would be disheartening to miss out on them if they are true. The only way you will ever know is by going to the Mormon source itself. The lists of facts and half truths that outside sources can offer you will rarely bring you to a place where you can take a taste of the sweet, joyous, and wonderful blessings of the gospel. Only by seeking out the source and trying it out for yourself can you know if it really is true. And what a worthwhile risk to take, because if there is something to it all, if it is true, then the blessings and promises in return are wonderful beyond imagination. 

For Those Who Are Just Curious 

Even if you are not in a place where you want to consider if the church is true, but merely have some general questions, please seek out the members of the church to ask your questions rather than asking someone on the outside. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints want others to perceive them in a true and honest light. Please give them a chance to offer that light and truth by seeking answers to your questions through them. Even if you walk away still unconvinced about the truthfulness of the gospel, you will be walking away with a more accurate portrayal of who the Mormons are, and why they live and believe the way they do.

Alturas Lake 2016

Here's some photos from the fun I had this summer at Alturas Lake in Idaho with my mom's side of the family. We go camping here every single year and it's one of my most favorite places in the world!

Grandpa playing Rook. He's been going camping here since he was 11 and he's been bringing his family back ever since

We played Screwy Lewy, of course!

Ems & me by the lake (gotta love the hair!)

Sunrise at the campsite we stayed at the first few days

Stephanie, my cousin's new (awesome!) wife, and mwa-self!

Aunt Janet & Mom

Mom & Dad

Kate & I at the campsite

Jessica & I on an awesome hike just my immediate family did

July 2016

July was BUSY, but filled with so many good things!

Jon and I started off the month by going to one of our new favorite places in Tacoma--Swan Creek. Swan Creek is a local park with trails that you can walk through for several acres. What has attracted us to it recently, though, is the mountain biking trails also found at the park.

Jon grew-up in the brown, flat, desert region of Southern California were he learned to love dirt biking. He misses it dearly, but I'm fairly certain that I would not enjoy the activity if I gave it a go, so we haven't attempted it yet. That, plus we don't have a bike and they're rather expensive. Mountain biking has become the middle ground that Jon and I have discovered that we both enjoy, and so since finding Swan Creek, we've been back to visit many times!

For the Fourth of July, Jon and I took a break from mountain biking and went on a hike instead. We went hiking to a place called Perry Creek in the Mr. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest north of Seattle. It was a cold and rainy day, which was nice because it meant less hikers were on the trail. The down side of this though was that the last 2 miles of the 6 mile trail was in a cloud which meant that instead of getting a view at the top, all we could see was more cloud! On top of this, the snow still on top of the peak made it very cold! Despite this all, we still got to see many beautiful waterfalls in the valley on our way up and had a fantastic time together!

Here I am at the top in the snow and the rain!

Towards the end of the month we escaped away for a fun weekend camping at Millersylvania state park near Olympia with our friends Nicole and Pierre. Nicole and Pierre have also been getting into mountain biking, so we spent a decent amount of our time there riding our bikes around on the trails at the park. When we weren't biking, we were eating yummy food and playing games around the campfire.

We are so grateful to have become friends with Nicole and Pierre during our time here in Tacoma. Like us, they enjoy watching sports, playing games, and having fun outside. We've had many game nights together and have spent several evenings watching basketball games with them. At a time of life when Jon and I are just starting out, don't have any kids, and are figuring the whole married things out, it's been comforting having friends in the same boat who we feel like we can relate to. Our friendship with Nicole and Pierre has been a testament to me that Heavenly Father is aware of my circumstances and will take care of me by sending good friends into my life no matter where I am.

May 2016

The past two months have been a blast! In the middle of May, my sisters took a train up to visit us for the weekend. We had fun playing games, talking 'till 3am, and doing pancake art.

The next day, all four of us drove down to my parents' place and we spent the day there. While there we did a short hike, played Wii sports, ate treats, and played games again.

Memorial Day weekend was once again a blast. My mom came up on Friday and the two of us went on a bike ride along the Foothills Trail, from Orting to South Prairie. It was an easy trail with beautiful views--great place to talk and ride at the same time. That evening we went to the temple with Jon and enjoyed a wonderful session.

The next morning we woke up early and went to Mt. Rainier to hike to Carbon Glacier. This hike was easy in that there wasn't a sharp incline, but proved difficult in other ways. Several sections of the trail were washed out and we had to adventure our way through to find where the trail picked up. At one point, it took us an hour to find our way across the river we were hiking to!

Jon finding his way across the river:

The reward at the end of the hike was great. Not only was there a really cool suspension bridge that went across the river, but Jon got to satisfy his dream to see a glacier.

All of us in front of the bridge:

 Me at the far end of the bridge:

Jon crossing the bridge:

That huge mound of brown stuff behind me--that's the glacier!

Altogether, it was a very long hike. 19 miles and 8 hours after we began, the three of us made it back to the car and went home, tired but very satisfied.

This weekend exemplifies one of the things I love about my mom--she's getting older in age, but she works really hard to stay active and healthy so that we can do fun stuff like we did this weekend. It wasn't always this way for her. When I was younger, there was a time when she was overweight and had to decide that she wanted to change her lifestyle. She didn't do any crazy diet or exercise program; rather, she merely started to eat more consciously and exercise regularly (while still eating chocolate just about every day!). I'm sure it took a lot of work and self discipline on her part, but ever since then she's always tried to be healthy and take care of herself so that she can better take care of those around her. Her example has helped me in countless ways, and it's probably the main reason why I try to stay healthy and exercise today!

In summation, May was absolutely wonderful because it was a month filled with time with family!

What to Expect When You're Expecting the Missionaries

One of the primary ways that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spreads its message is through its missionaries. You’ve probably seen the missionaries on the streets, riding their bikes, or knocking at your front door. If you’re curious about the church and want to learn more, talking to the missionaries is a great way to have your questions answered. It can be scary, though, inviting strangers into your home to share a message you don’t know a lot about and are not sure you’d believe even if you did hear it. Today I hope to alleviate some of the fears you might have about inviting the missionaries into your home by explaining what to expect when you have the missionaries over for the first time.

Expect Them to be Young

One of the identifying characteristics about the missionaries is that most of them are young. Although older couples do have the opportunity to serve a mission when their children are grown, for the most part, the LDS missionaries serving around the world are between the ages of 18 and 25. This may be surprising to people outside of the church. However, scriptures suggest that the Lord has used the younger generation to do His work in times past too. For instance, in the Old Testament, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were children when they stood up and requested to not eat the king’s meat (Daniel 1:6). In the New Testament, though it does not explicitly give Mary’s age, we can guess, based on social customs of the time, that she was around the age of 16 when she gave birth to Jesus Christ ("Marry and Joseph"). These and other examples suggest that the Lord does not always have old age as a requirement to serve in His kingdom. He is the one who has called the young people of the church to serve. He trusts them with His message, and so do the members of the church.

Expect Them to Teach You

The duty of a missionary is the preach the word of God. They do this through teaching lessons and answering questions about the church. If you’ve never had the missionaries into your home before, expect them to teach you the first time you invite them in. On their first visit, they will probably teach you about Heavenly Father’s love for His children and the importance of families. In addition to this, they will probably teach you about Jesus Christ and how He restored His church through the prophet Joseph Smith. Feel free to ask the missionaries questions you have while they teach you these things. If the missionaries don’t know the answers to your questions, they will do their best to find the answers to them as long as you ask with a sincere and humble desire to know the truth. Remember that the missionaries do not want to debate or argue with you over rights and wrongs. Rather, missionaries merely desire to share with you what they know is true and then to leave it up to you to pray and discover for yourself if it is true. Ultimately, the missionaries are only tools in the hands of the Lord. The real teacher is the sweet spirit you feel as the missionaries testify. That spirit is the real teacher who will let you know what is true.

Expect Them to Invite You to Act

At the end of your time together, it is likely that the missionaries will invite you to act. They may invite you to read a passage of scripture. They may invite you to pray over the message they have shared. They may even invite you to get baptized at some future date. The reason why missionaries invite people to act is because they know that one of the best ways to find out if something is good is to try it out. We do this all the time with other important decisions we make in life. When buying a car, we take it for a test drive. When purchasing a house, we inspect it before making the sale final. When dating, we spend a lot of time getting to know someone before we commit to marrying them. When making decisions with far-reaching effects, it only makes sense to try something out before fully committing. Acting on the invitations that the missionaries extend to you is how you can put the gospel to the test before fully committing. Reading the scriptures will invite the Spirit into your life. Praying to God and asking Him your questions will invite Him to answer. Pondering over whether or not you should get baptized will give you something to pray to Him about. The Lord Himself endorsed this pattern in John 7:17 when he said: “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” When the missionaries invite you to act they are merely extending this ancient invitation from the Lord to you today.

Expect Good Things
Meeting with the missionaries can be the beginning of many good things. I have seen one visit with the missionaries lead to better decisions and brighter futures. I have seen one visit with the missionaries lead to changed hearts and mended families. I have seen one visit with the missionaries lead to greater desires to be good and increased feelings of self-worth. I have seen one visit with the missionaries lead to deep joy and lasting peace. These, and many more blessings await those who have the courage to reach out and seek to know for themselves if what the missionaries teach is true.

Whether or not you invite the missionaries into your home to hear their message, I hope that you can appreciate the work they do and the effort they put into sharing what they believe to be true. They may be young, but they work tirelessly and with fierce determination, which to me speaks volumes about the message they have to share. As with all good things related to the church, it focuses on Jesus Christ. I know for myself that their message is true and that it is the best message in the world. I invite you to find out the same thing for yourself.

*If you're interested in meeting with the missionaries, click here for more information. 

Also, click here to watch a fun video my husband's friend recently posted called "6 Things You've Always Wondered About Mormon Missionaries" 

Lately

The past month has been full of so many fun adventures for Jon and me!

In the middle of April, we hiked Mt. Si, a peak up near Seattle. It was a fairly steep 4 miles and a very busy trail, but it proved to provide a beautiful view at the top!

Then, the last week of April we ventured into Seattle for our first Mariner's game. The whole ordeal took us quite a few hours because we took the bus and wanted to get there early, but it was all worth it.

One of the best parts of the evening was getting to see Jon's friend from growing up, Tex. Tex works at the Mariner's games, but was able to come and sit with us during his break for quite a big chunk of the game. Jon especially appreciated having him there so that he could have someone who understands what's going on to the same degree that he does!

Today we spent several hours bike riding along the Foothills Trail, starting in Puyallup. This trail is wonderful for intercity bike riding! It's over 30 miles long and paved the whole way, weaving through several cities. We hope to make it back sometime soon to bike along another part of it!

Why I'm Not a Mormon

I spend a lot of time doing what I love most—being Mormon. "Mormon" is a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a world that is growing more and more disinterested in religion, it’s easy to assume that Mormons have ulterior motives for being members of the church. I want to take a moment to address some common conceptions skeptics have about why people join religions, and why none of these are reasons for why I’m a Mormon.

I'm not a Mormon because it makes me feel good.

There are many wonderful doctrines of the church that, when I hear and learn about, make me feel good. We believe that every person has great worth. We believe that there is life after death. We believe that families can be together forever. The list goes on. But I’m not religious just because it feels good. In fact, there are many cases when being Mormon doesn’t feel awesome. It doesn’t feel awesome to resist temptation. It doesn’t feel awesome to be the odd one out. It doesn’t feel awesome to be the subject of criticism. If a good emotional high is what I was after, I’d find it somewhere else.

I'm not a Mormon because it provides me with a place to make friends.

I meet most of my friends at church, not because I don’t want friends outside of the church—in fact, some of my best friends are not members—but because I tend to make friends where I dedicate my time, and for me that is at church. This is not, however, my motivation for attending. Being a member of the church is a very time intensive commitment, and I’m sure I could reap the benefit of friends through other, easier venues. To add to this, there have been times when it was hard for me to find friends at church; or times when, though I did make friends, people in my congregation were moody, critical of my efforts, and hard to get along with. In both these cases, I stayed true to the faith. Yes—my membership in the church does provide me with wonderful friendships, but the effort it takes to be a member, along with the occasional less than ideal circumstance or fellow worshipper, confirms to me that I don’t show up to church every week just to make friends.

I'm not a Mormon because I was raised in the church.

I am incredibly grateful that I was born and raised in the church. Because of this, I was blessed with opportunities to learn about and experiment living the gospel from an early age. Many skeptics would argue that my membership in the church today is due to this, and that if I were raised in another home where my parents taught different values, I wouldn’t be a Mormon today. In response to this, I would point out that as I’ve left home to create my own life, there are things that I have chosen to not do the way my parents taught me to. Going through this process of deciding how to live my adult life has forced me to pause and question whether my membership in the church is due to my parents’ faith or mine. After many anxious days and months of sometimes feeling uneasy and doubtful, I have affirmed that the reason I keep going to church is because I have a testimony, not because my parents do. I will always be grateful for the sacrifices my parents made to raise me in the church, but my membership now is a decision made by me, not any outside party.

I'm not a Mormon because I am scared of what others will think if I leave.

If I left the church, more than one person’s jaw would drop. My non-member friends might wonder if I accidentally sipped a lick of beer at their last party, while those in my congregation and family would be disappointed. Surely for some people, the thought of what others might think of them if they were to leave the church is enough to scare them into staying. However, I believe that I receive just as many critical opinions of others by being a member of the church as I would if I were to leave. Being a member of the church brands me as different, and sometimes it’s hard to be the different one. It’s embarrassing to correct myself when I unintentionally tell a little lie. It’s scary being the one who walks out of the movie. It’s hard speaking-up and sharing my church beliefs with others—beliefs that are personal and priceless to me—only to have them turn me down. Of course some people would think badly of me if I chose to leave the church, but by remaining a member I choose to belong to a religion that many people believe is too strict and kooky, therefore making me the target of many unfavorable opinions. Leaving the church would be scary because of what others would think of me, but as a member of the church I already deal with other people’s critical opinions every day; jumping ship will not change that.

Why I am a Mormon.

I am not a Mormon because it makes me feel good or because it’s a great place to make friends, and I’m not committed just because I was raised in the church or because I’m scared of what others will think if I leave. So why am I a Mormon?

Though it can be hard at times, and though it is not the popular thing to do, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

I love Him.

I honor Him.

I trust Him.

I believe Him and in Him.

I believe that Jesus Christ volunteered Himself before the creation of the earth to come down and sacrifice Himself as our Savior so that we might one day return to live with our Heavenly Father, despite our faults.

I believe the Jesus Christ was born of Mary in a stable, and that this humble beginning was just the start of a gloriously humble life.

I believe that Jesus Christ lived His life as the perfect example of how we should live our lives if we want to be happy, clean, and good. He served constantly, lifting those around Him regardless of faults, and willingly offered second chances.

I believe that Jesus Christ suffered the Atonement and died on Calvary’s cross for each of us. I believe that because of this, we can all access the power to change and become clean again through repentance.

I believe that Jesus Christ rose from the grave three days after His death, breaking the bands of mortality that bind us all, thereby promising each of us life after this one.

I believe that Jesus Christ appeared to the boy Joseph Smith and restored the church that He had originally established when He was upon the earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I believe that I will see Him one day, but that I do not have to wait until that day to come to know Him. I can know Him now, though reading the scriptures, praying, keeping the commandments, and continuing faithfully as a member of His restored church.

Everything else around me may change: family, friends, location, politics, pop culture, jobs, health, socioeconomic status, and on and on. However, one thing that I know will never change is Jesus Christ. He is constant. And because He’s constant, I will be too. I am fixed firmly on being a member of this church because He has asked me, through living apostles and prophets, to be a fully committed and contributing member of this church from yesterday to today until the day I die and on into eternity. And so I will be.

This is why I am a Mormon.

He is why I am a Mormon.

In essence, I choose to be a Mormon because I choose to follow Jesus Christ.

Bike Ride and Snoqualmie Falls

Yesterday Jon and I went on a bike ride along the Preston Snoqualmie Trail. Jon just got a bike a month ago for his birthday and besides riding it around the neighborhood, this was its first real test, and it passed! Our ride lasted about two hours, a total of about 10 miles. I loved it! I'm so grateful that the weather is getting nicer so that I can do these sorts of things!

Unfortunately, the view of Snoqualmie Falls from the bike trail wasn't too impressive, so after the bike ride we decided to drive to the Falls to get a closer look. Snoqualmie Falls was packed, but worth the traffic jam! It's probably the most massive and powerful waterfall that I've ever been to. We took some pictures up top and then took the half a mile trail down to the boardwalk on the bottom and took some pictures down there.

After that, we went home and crashed, both taking hour long naps. We both considered it a pretty top-notch day.

Young Women's

Well, I had a very short go at being my ward's Young Women's president. They called me to be the secretary in January, changed the call so that I was the president in February, and then in March the ward boundaries realigned so that I'm now in a new ward and, therefore, no longer my old ward's president. It's been a little crazy! Even though it was such a short time, though, I still thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and serve the girls in my old ward.

The main activity we held for mutual was New Beginnings. The girls chose to do a pirate's theme and thanks to my counselors, our decorations were pretty neat! We spent the evening searching for a hidden treasure. As we talked about different things, we put map pieces together up front on a board. Once the map was all put together, Bishop came up front and flipped the map around to reveal the treasure...a big picture of Jesus Christ. When he did, the Spirit filled my heart and I was grateful to be in the room, talking with a group of God's beautiful daughters, talking about the ultimate treasure He has given to us all.

I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is the treasure. He is the light in the lighthouse. We are the lower lights that help bring the other travelers safely into the harbor.

I will miss working with the girls I met in my old ward, but I look forward to seeing what serving in our new ward will bring!

My Family Visits and Out First Hockey Game

The last weekend of February was a fun one. Like I said in my last post--it was really hard coming back to reality after a week of freedom in California. Grading papers was even less exciting than it was before I left. My Julius Caesar unit was barely dragging by. Luckily, amid trying to pick myself back up, I had this weekend of fun to help me keep things optimistic!

My family--Dad, Mom, Abby, and Kate--came up just for some fun. After they arrived, we left Jon (he had a church basketball game to go to) and went on a "hike" at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Our hiking guide classified it as a hike, but really it was more of a walk along a boardwalk. It was a pretty neat place with lots of wildlife to gawk at.

See?

Whoops. Did I just call Abby part of the wildlife? I meant see:

It was a jolly good time.

When we finished-up our little walk, my family went back home and Jon and I went to our first ever hockey game. The game was in Kent, WA; with the Seattle Thunderbirds v. the Everett Silvertips. Seattle won the game, but Everett won my respect for being less violent. Seattle was violent at times for no reason, and that's why I suspect that everyone likes them, which is stupid! I know that hockey is "supposed" to be violent. I think that's also stupid. Overall, it was a great culturally enlightening experience, but I doubt I'll find myself going to another hockey game anytime soon!

Regardless of my hard feelings towards the game, it was still splendid to get to spend the evening with this amazing guy. He makes a lot of unpleasant things more fun, like paying bills and cleaning the house. I don't think being an adult would be half as much fun if I weren't doing it alongside him.