What I Wish I Knew Before I Got HITCHED!

My little sister is getting married in about a month. Lucky for her and for him, I already know the guy that she is marrying, so I don't have to put him in any of the wrestling moves that I have been practicing for the past 21 years of my life. Now I'll just have to save them for my nephews.

As they prepare for marriage, I have wondered what would I say to him, and what would I say to her as they prepare for the best time of their life?

Well alas, the day has come and I am ready to impart my brotherly wisdom.

Here are the THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I GOT MARRIED!

• Do one kind thing for each other every day. Something as little as pouring their cup at dinner or replacing the toilet paper when it runs out goes a long way.
  
• Before arguing, try and figure out if the other person is hungry or sleepy. If they are, fix it before moving on with the argument. You'll quickly realize that most of the anger goes away after a PB&J and a glass of milk.
  
• Before being offended, ask the other person what they intended to say. Usually they were making a joke or weren't thinking about what they were saying or how it would come across.
  
• Marriage is much more difficult than you think. My wife and I get into disagreements all the time, but have learned that it is less about one of us being wrong and more about both of us having different ideas than the other person. 
  
• Get into a habit of forgiving quickly and often. There is no substitute for humility.
  
• If you do something wrong, say you are sorry. If you think you did nothing wrong, say you are sorry. Saying sorry breaks down barriers and you can't stay mad at someone when they get those big puppy dog eyes and make their bottom lip quiver.
  
• Sex is awesome and very important and a lot of fun in marriage, but is not the most important thing. More important is how your spouse feels love. No amount of lovemaking can make someone feel loved if you don't listen to their needs outside of the bedroom. Find out how your spouse feels loved and show it to them often.
  
• Which brings up the point that people feel loved differently. I show love through gift giving while my wife feels love through quality time. This took us an awkward Christmas to figure out when my wife told me that she doesn't want to get presents.
  
• And finally, say only nice things to each other. Even a joke can hurt the other person. Sometimes things that I think are obvious jokes, don't seem that way to the other person.
  

I love you Kate and have for many years.  I am so glad to see you marrying such a nice man. The happiest years of your life are ahead of you, enjoy them. And call me if he ever hurts you.

Joseph

BOOO Sportsmanship!!

It all started just a few months ago. I went to a BYU football game. All dressed in my BYU blue garb and ready to cheer on my Cougars. It had been two years since I had been to a BYU sporting event and the excitement was flowing through my true blue veins. As I stood in the student section with my friends and fellow Cougars I became quite worried when something caught my ears. At first it started off with just a few people, but giving it a few seconds it seemed like the entire stands erupted in a loud "BOOOOOOOOO." Supposedly the referere had made a bad call somewhere on the field that warranted a birage of insults and the occasional swear.

What is this?! We just had an opening prayer literally 14 minutes ago where I am sure something like, "and bless us and the athletes with good sportsmanship..." I don't believe there was any sort of clause that made it okay to BOO the ref if he made a call we disagreed with. If that would've been said I doubt I would've "amened" that.


What do you think gives us the right to BOO the ref? Do we think we could've made a better call? Do we think that the ref has it in for us and wants to watch us lose? Do we think that the other team paid the refs thousands of dollars to throw the game? I mean really?

Usually in most sporting events I am quite a distance away from the actual action, usually hundreds of feet. The refs are usually within 10 to 15 feet, if that. Additionally I have very little, if you can even call it that much, of knowledge of the rules of the game. Those referees have been doing this for years logging more than thousands of hours of referring before the reach the collegiate or professional level. I am pretty sure that as you get further away from the field, that your ability to make a good call diminishes, but I'm no doctor. Just a hunch.

I understand that there are plenty of instances of referees making a bad call and in some instances even a terrible call, but that gives us absolutely no authority or right to BOO them. Can you imagine someone coming into your workplace and booing you because you made an honest mistake? How terrible would you feel?

Some people have the sad argument that BOOing is part of the game. That without it there would be nothing fun to do. I soundly BOOOO such an argument. Never should insulting someone be a common occurrence.

May I say that I find no instance where BOOing someone is appropriate. May we all be a bit more considerate and kind. After all, its just a game.

Thoughts on the Resurrection

I thought I understood the resurrection. I can tell you that Christ was the first of many to be resurrected. I know that when we are resurrected that "not even a hair of our head shall not be lost." I thought I knew it.

Then came the last day of my New Testament class. If I get nothing out of college other than what I learned that day my college experience was worth it. I have loved my New Testament teacher, Sis. Olsen because of her insights and just great humor about everything. She has opened my eyes to things that I have heard and could recite verbatim, to things that have me awestruck.

Consider this scripture:
"Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself."

I love this account of the apostle's reaction to learning of the empty tomb. This painting by Dan Burr I think is the best representation of this wonderful account as we see the emotions of these apostles beautifully portrayed in their faces. Can you imagine what was going through their heads? They knew the prophecies, they knew that the "temple" was to be rebuilt in three days, but could it be true? Did he really come back the way he said he would?

As they reach the tomb, John gazes in from outside as Peter throws himself into the formerly sealed tomb. John records something interesting. In the account he tells us about the linen cloths that are now lying where Jesus formerly lay. But what does the John tell us about the napkin that covered his head? He mentions that it is apart from the rest of the sheets and is folded together.

Now I know that mothers love to use this scripture to remind their kids to make their bed, sometimes even their sons in college, but I like to think there is more to this than just that. Who folded the napkin? It wasn't Mary, Peter, or John. It wasn't the soldiers, they high-tailed it out of there. I don't think it was the angel either. I would like to say that it was indeed Christ who folded it.

Can you imagine the emotion of that moment? Christ has been reunited with his body, the first of God's children to do so, and you can almost see the picture in your mind. Christ in the dark and sealed tomb, taking the time to fold the now useless napkin, alone to his thoughts. I can imagine the joy that he felt knowing that death had finally been defeated.

After his 40 day stay with the disciples the account finishes. As he leaves his apostles, they are found staring into the sky by two angels. One of them speaks to them and says,
"Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

I no longer profess to know all that there is about the resurrection. But this much I know as a surety, that I will be resurrected, and so will you.

Merry Christmas

I recently went to JCPenny to pick up a pair of boots that my mother so graciously purchased for me so that I can keep my toes warm when I shovel snow at 4 am. Going to the catalog desk I was met by a very nice man who was very helpful and was wearing a Santa atop his head. As we made some small talk I found out that he seemed like a pretty nice guy. Anyway, as I left the desk with boots in hand I turned to him and wished him "Happy Holidays." He smiled and said the same back to me as I walked off. Realizing what I had just said, I stopped in midstep, turned to him again and said, "No wait...Merry Christmas!!"

I am sick of this! Why is it that we are forced to say Happy Holidays in fear of offending someone. Now I admit that I doubt I will offend that many people here in Provo, but still, when I go home for the holidays I will never wish someone Happy Holidays. I believe in the birth of my Savior and the fact that he died for me. I respect all of the other holidays, and by holidays I mean Chanukah. Kwanza is a made up holiday and I have no respect for that one, sorry.

May we never forget the Savior in our lives. Merry Christmas!

Alpha Post

So here it is, the first post on my blog. I now feel like I am complete. From the early days of Xanga, to now, there has been a lot in my life that has transpired. I am not sure exactly where to start, but I guess the very best place is of course the beginning. And by beginning I mean Thursday.

Thursday started off by heading up to Salt Lake and seeing my grandparents and then going to see some of my other family for Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey was cooked, the potatoes were mashed and the sauce was cranberry. It was a blast to be able to see my family again, and to explain over and over again that Geography is in fact an actual major.

One thing that I am excited about is that my grandmother found something that I have missed for a very long time. A few years ago when we came to Salt Lake, Lulu had found some cheese filled pretzels on QVC. All you have to do is heat them up in the microwave, and there you have it, warm cheddar cheese inside of a soft salty pretzel. Anyways, Lulu has been unable to find them for quite some time but recently she found them in her local grocery store. Needless to say she sent me to the store so I could get some. So delicious.

Continuing on, Thursday I made my first pie. It was pumpkin, and it was soo good. My grandmother showed me a trick where you cut out a pumpkin out of the extra pie crust and put it on top of the finished product. Just the right touch to make it look a little more festive...okay, enough with that talk.

Thursday night took me to Brendan's home to have Thanksgiving Dinner with his family including his mom and brother, and then the Andersons and Kelly Cook. Somehow we got into an argument about Harry Potter and the Elder Wand. I am still confused about...

Friday, really didn't do anything. I did get some homework done and then had a great night as Bro. Anderson came to town as Trevor was ordained an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood. Thats a pretty effective night if you ask me. Also Denny's afterwards.

Saturday: I wish not to comment. Lets just say I am ready for next year. That is all

Sunday found me waking up to find 4 inches of snow on the ground an two missed calls from my supervisor at work. I hurriedly got into work and helped shovel the walks and throw down ice melt. Unfortunately I missed church which I was excited for, but I am making sure that campus is safe and sound for all the frosh in Wyview.

Thats all I have today. Hopefully you'll come back again real soon.

All is Well!