One Single-Photograph?

There is something about this photograph that meets the eye and our thoughts about it. It also may be in questioned in many different ways more than one. What is it in this photo that meets mine own eyes? Is it the color, the style, the way the sunlight hits, is it even the objects that are line up, or maybe it’s the way the arrangement of people or each person is to whom ever looks at this photo and the faces that are shown here?

What other ways could someone question about this one single-photograph ask? A few questions may be: What’s wrong with it? What would you change? How does the color look upon this photo? What other arrangement could be done to make this photograph better? How do we delegate this photo? Do we need or have to with questions? Do we judge this photograph by what we think; or do we look at it with our minds and questions our thoughts without just looking at it with our hearts?

How do we definitively at liking this picture without the questioning of why do we like it? How do we ask what questions we have about this picture?

My words of and on this photograph are simple in a way that even these faces on this photograph could to understand with three little words…

I LOVE IT…

As tears flow beyond my checks every time I look at this photo or others like this one: There are NO questions to ask upon why I love this photo or what is it about this photo that gets to me? I can now say with full extent of why grandparents love having grandkids.

I may not be a grandpa yet but being an Uncle to those faces and others is even better and how grateful I am to have these babies in my life; Now and Forever!! I can’t imagine being a dad and asking all those questions that parents ask each day but I can answer both of which what’s in my thoughts and in my heart in the same path and in different prospective of my knowing each of these faces individually!

To this, I will say, that I may never get a chance to see a birth of my own first son or daughter. To even the endless of everyday monumental chores of changing diapers, bath-time, one-o’clock in the morning and every hour feedings, terrible twos, potty training, first crawl on fours, first words, first walk with a step of the left or right, first day at school, first grade report-card, and to all the out-going to places of new sights and sounds to the change of scenery of holidays at grandma’s house and to also all of the throw-downs of birthday parties up to age 12!

Life keeps going with parents of these faces of worries of them being teenagers. From hardships break-ups of true love, troubles in school, fist fights in the school yard, poor grades because they’re not worry about what happens in ten-years from now and being just a ripe-old age of eighteen. To also, late night talks about life and the future ahead, being young and wild with late night walk-ins, and of course the dreadful speech of the birds and the bees, to straight talks on why I was caught by the law for whatever reasons to why my body acts funny, and how come I’m ugly to why that person doesn’t like me?

All of that may be one of hardships and trails to other parents but to these parents of these faces on this photograph may say otherwise and why should they? Just to have the chance to call themselves “true parents” is in on itself of statement of ALL statements mounted at the top of the tallest mountain is where it need and SHOULD be forevermore!

Fighting a good fight is what these faces of these children need from the start of their birth to the end of these parents’ life. No one can say how these able human bodies with beautiful faces, and a personality of self-worth to match with their kind is all they need to face the world ahead of them. Also to have speed bumps and obstacles in their way to say to them that life has its’ walls to climb over and to say to themselves that they are ready for the next challenge with a hope of happiness to get through it with a better emotional of gladness of knowing that this is life!

As for me, I hope I may become a greater part then just being an Uncle. I hope to one day show them by my examples and experiences that life beyond being in a wheelchair is more then just a “thing” you use to get around in. I hope they learn from me by the way of how I live my life. The things that these parents do for these faces are if not more. For me alone, I must do my part and to also help them, lead them to a better life than they think.

Being a parent is more than a job it does make you better and learn of someone that you gave life to. To those who ARE parents to these faces on this photograph, I commend you in your efforts in becoming more then just being human beings but being a servants of being “True Parents” to these future beholders of the world in whatever may come to them. They may be in content with trials in or upon their lives but with your guidance and help, they’ll pull through it all in the end.

I love these faces and the parents who they are born to, with every fiber of my being in calling them my Nieces and Nephews. I see these faces in this photograph and others like them with great expectations of them in becoming great leaders to the world and great followers of a Heavenly Father who loves them and cares for them each day of their lives.

I to hope that I have the qualities to help them in leading these able bodies to what the Lord wants them to be because I also know that I’m JUST here to help out in any way that I can…

And that alone is the one job that I can’t fail at of doing now or NEVER!!!

Pepe...A Roommate to the End!!

There’s that someone in your life that has given a great impact of love, gratitude, worthy, and great friendships. Those people could be anyone, a family-member, a long-time friend, or a “potential special someone”! But in my case of being here at BYU has been my Mexican Brother: Pepe Uribe!

Ever since I arrived at BYU on May-2007, I’ve only been living on-campus since August-2008 and since then; I’ve had a great opportunity of meeting great roommates in these past years!! From seven of these great and awesome roommates, Pepe has been with me when I moved back into Building 26 #344 on January 15^th and has been ever since that winter semester of 2010.

It has been an attitude of love that he has remained with me for more than two and a half years. When he graduates on April 19^th, 2012, it will be: two years, 27-months, and 118-weeks that we’ve been together as roommates; the longest running roommate since I moved to BYU!!

I can’t even imagine of what it would be like of not having him around in my life when May-2012 rolls in!! I must say we have grown to see past each other’s ups and downs of life’s obstacles and he has taught me that there’s love in other hands to help you even outside of your own family. I can’t say the words of how much he has done in my life and hope we stay in touch for many years to come and hopefully he’ll name a son after his Tongan Brother…Just saying!! =)

Seven of my former roommates has been awesome in a way that without them, I wouldn’t be here but without Pepe, I wouldn’t have the life I have now with late-nights talks, movie watching, late-nights eating at Denny’s, dancing to Brazilian music, to knowing every song of Adele, and of course (his favorite since Javier left on a mission), scaring me until I pee myself!

There has been a difference in all my roommates from Alex Teemsma’s crazy but catchy YouTube videos from “Russian-Guy Singing” to “BrodyQuest”, and who can’t forget “Potter Puppet Pals”, and Javier Ascanio’s breakfast dish of bananas with eggs, to Tyler Aughenbaugh’s introducing me to the game of Civilizations V!

Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, four Americans from Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Utah; one Tongan from New Jersey (no Family relations to my knowledge), one Cuban from Texas, and one Hispanic from Mexico City! Ages between 20 to 30 years-old, majoring from Construction Management to Nursing, and with different personality, ways to look at life differently but share a difference to what love of life is and should be!

The world may never know a Jose Luis Uribe Lopez (and whatever name is left for this Prince of royalty has at the end) also known as Pepe to those that know him well. All I must say is that he has the ability to do great things in life and beyond anyone reach but his alone!! To others that don’t know him as good as I do, he is just another student at BYU!!

To me, Pepe is more than a guy that loves to cook, whose double majors are in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Speaks five languages of Latin, Spanish, English, Portuguese, and French; Lived in many parts of the world, such as: Rio de Jeneiro, New York City, Columbia, and Mexico City just to name a few and also knows the Catholic church and went to Catholic school while young! Pepe is also a “tell it like it is” kind of person, don’t take criticism of himself or others to lightly, an “loud” out-spoken person whose stands at 5-5 and only coming at you with 140lbs., funny in many ways for the little things he do and always good to stand on what you need to hear!!

But there is that side that he hates (that I love doing), like: Don’t bother him while he is using the bathroom, burping or belching without saying excuse me, farting when he is in the same room, eating a animal-style burger from In-N-Out, peeing with the bathroom door open or anywhere outside EVEN if you’re in the middle of nowhere driving up to LAX and even at the open parking-lot of Costco…hahaha!!

Still there are a lot more to say to help you tick him off, more are there. But in all aspects of a life with Pepe is more of what you can’t say enough of how he is, not only to others around him but especially to me!! He is just one hell of a guy that is one of the many people that are AWESOME in that there are no words that are more meaningful but yet exquisite to describe Pepe. I may need more than 808 words to just tell you of how much Pepe have done in my life!!

All those 118-weeks was because of that first move back into my old stomping ground of Building 26 #344 on the month of January; on the day of the fifteenth; of the year of two-thousand and ten! Thanks to impart by Aaron Carmack and Alex Teemsma, without them I wouldn’t have known of a roommate who is loving, caring from the start, respectful in every way possible; and who goes by the name of Jose Luis Uribe Lopez AKA Pepe!!

Nothing is more important to me than to give homage to a roommate and of course to a Hispanic Brother that knows me for The Person that I am and NOT only for a person with a disability! This is exactly why when this blog has done with all that is said to be said, that one day when I or anyone who set upon their eyes and reads this blog; that they may know my knowing of a guy who I call Pepe, A Bro to the ends of time and beyond the Heavens above!!

Last but not least from a verse from Adele’s “Someone Like You”…Our favorite song is right to end this Blog to my Brother…

“Never mind, I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best for you too. Don't forget me, I beg, I remember you said, Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead, Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead, Yeah.”

A Different Kind of Extended Family!!

Most of my blogs has been aiming towards my BYU brothers and sisters and to my own Family!! But not forgetting my own “Extended Family”, this blog has to step back and look with focus at a different kind of extended family, who are indeed mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, to even grand-parents, aunties, and uncles to these individuals that I’ve gotten to really know over the years!!

From meeting the parents of Blaine Sandifer to which I call Linda a Mom and to use that AWESOME term on throughout others who is just like her is a GREAT reminder to my own Mom! To calling Javier Ascanio’s sisters my own Baby Sisters and just like my own “Baby-Sis”, their Cuban side will defiantly fight those who are quick to judge on my disability as to so many others that I call my Sisters too!!

Having these BYU Brothers and Sisters has it means to meet great Fathers; Aaron Carmack’s Dad: Richard is most fit this description as to being a GREAT Priesthood holder! To meeting not one but both sets of Grand-Parents of Craig Goodwin and even though my own have passed on…Just seeing Grandma Wanda Colyer make me miss my Grandma Tasia SO MUCH and her loving heart in making sure that I eat before ANYTHING else reminds me the best of Grandma!!

I might not remember Grandpa Vaha’i Tonga but knowing Grandpa Talo Latu and hearing all those stories of their defending the LDS Church and their Families in the long run puts Grandpa Goodwin and Grandpa Colyer right up there with them; both of their “out-spoken” personalities and their endless loving hearts reminds me of how GREAT Grandpa Vaha’i and Grandpa Talo still is to this day!!

So with that said, don’t want to remind you again that my Brothers consists the names of not only Nuku mo Vaha’i but as well as Pepe Uribe, Aaron Carmack, Austin Mulleneaux, Brian Sanchez, Derek Carmack, Gregg Kerren, Parker Dahl, and Christopher Yegge just to name a few, reminds me that I have a lot of loving Brothers!! And even though ‘Ana Vasaliva may be my Baby-Sis but the names of Stacey Johnson, Whitni England, Leann Schwegler, Marissa England, and Michele Rivera comes to mind that I got it good when they are around!!

But the most impact person in my life is my LOVING Mom: Tapaita!! But even though Linda Sandifer is the only name but the lists go on to: Terry Griffin, Sherri Scoffield, Lisa Colyer Goodwin, Laura Lee Watts Carmack, Mayi Pellon, Gina Schwegler, and Sherry Karren are the many names that if combine with personalities, loving hearts, fighting words to those who second guess my ability to LIVE, to a out-spoken/don’t-care-attitude remind me of my Mother…HANDS-DOWN!!

These people are great in their own way, outside the boundaries of my own family!! That if for some reason one-way or another that if I were to come with Derek Carmack, Russell Albroto, Jason Cottrell, Kelcie Earl, Christina Izatt, Stephen Kofoed, Shelby Campbell, and Many More to their house; I would be welcomed with open arms and a loving hug or two!!

To this end, there are also Sisters-in-Laws, I must say that Derrick Vehekite’s wife got not only a loving heart but Setita Palefau is also a loving “sister” that you can talk to and can understand with an open-mind to what I’m saying. There might not be another like her but with the names of: Alexa Goodrich (Goodwin) and Ellen Funch (Kerren) there, you can tell with a loving heart from the get-go that they are indeed and truly Sisters of mine!!

With words, I cannot be able to show gratitude of love I have for my extended family. But with actions and emotions, I hope I will show them love and the compassion of being able to call them my own Tongan Family to because as for all and everything else…We are ALL Brothers and Sisters in the eyes of our Father in Heaven!! And that to me is GOOD ENOUGH to say with a LOVING AND THANKFUL HEART, the words of: “I LOVE YOU ALL!!”

Last of the Guys…

Sunday, July 17^th, 2011 will be one of the many dates that I’ll remember most by in all the days of my life; while to most people it’ll be any other day. This day will be my “hard work pay off” in some way or another but to a Brother, THIS DAY means so much more than a birthday or a wedding day!! This day means: Becoming a man of truth, benevolent, honest, loving, caring, hard-working, mind on something more, right for whatever comes, and lastly and most of all becoming “A Man of Honor”!

Javier Ascanio-Pellon just submitted a document to the Headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In return, a mission call will be coming his way, a prize precession that will change and shape him now and forever!!

People may say he couldn’t go, and some say he wouldn’t make it! Disbelievers may have a strong and inducting say in someone else’s life. While most would have given up the good and challenging fight of becoming more than any better than you were yesterday!!

In this situation; however, not to a boy, a Cuban descendent that is nothing like his hometown now of Houston, Texas and especially not a convert to a church that sends out young men to serve a two-year mission and coming back saying: “I served an honorable mission”!

Javier is my greatest challenge; I must say he is as ready as he ever be. A guy who came from a great deal of what’s it like to work your butt off for something more, something worth living for, and something that’ll rain blessings upon a family that is still learning what and how this Church bless those who work and wanting more in life beyond their expectations.

To others that say there’s more to a mission than life itself is right to say that. The power of wanting more is something you can’t find these days and the consequences of NOT serving a mission is not a death-sentence but something more will edify those who choose not to serve a mission.

In Javier case, serving a mission is something he “needs” and to some people is sometimes “the want” in life’s path!! In Javier’s eyes, a mission means a great deal of what happen next, during, and after in this phase of life is where it can change him. Ether for the better and sometimes for the worst is what beautifies life’s challenges, because he will never know what’s coming around the next corner?

To this end, I’m proud at this Cuban descendent name: Javier Ascanio-Pellon and call him A Brother because of what he is standing for, not for only his family but ALSO for himself!! To become better then he was yesterday and that is all on its own is what will shape him for the rest of his life and into the future!!

To Javier, know this: know that I’m proud of you, know that the choices you made one-year ago to serve a mission meant hard-work to get back to where you needed to be was indeed the RIGHT ONE, know that you’d shown all of the disbelievers in your life something that was indeed yours to make from the beginning, and also know that I LOVE how much you’ve grown in the past years that I’ve known you!!

This is who we really are!! Something that life has for us, something that binds us into one whole and well-off to a world that is indeed ready for us!! Javier may be the last of the guys out but I know there will be more to come, I may not know when or where they will be or come from. But all I know is this that whoever comes my way that it will start anew group that will have challenges and indeed I’ll be ready!! But as for now after 25+ guys that I some way helped one way or another that Javier Ascanio-Pellon is indeed the Last of the Guys to go!

Damn if you do, and Damn if you don’t

Editors Note: Sorry for my “explicit” words in this blog but as you can see, my thoughts are in good intension and no I’m not perfect!! Just know, I love you all!!

I remember as a young child, things in life were easy to me and the outcome of the good would always send the bad ones away. As I grew older life was still good with bumps to keep me in mind that life has its bounds to a “real reality” to a world with bad things, like greed, heartless, unforgiving, relentless, damn if you do and damn if you don’t sick world.

Maybe everyone have its own way to say to the world by blaming the blame on someone else, thing or better yet…God, is always the way to go! Never once blaming themselves for the path they put themselves in. After all, what good will it is if we blame everything on us? Never mind the “right-a-way” to blaming our wants and needs in life but what if we blame ourselves just once for the entire bullshit we have in life? Then what about God? Should we blame him to? If someone else could blame God, then why not us; why not me?

Blaming Him for all trials and obstacles that I have is easy as eating food. Then again, why should I? Every time when trouble comes in a form of your own body movements; that’s when you ask yourself: “What the hell”? To the why must He put me this way or to what purpose of learning do I need to learn?

Answers never seem to get my understanding right and perhaps it shouldn’t? Maybe my life is different or as people calls it, a “blessing”!!

Blessing? If only they knew how blessed my life is. Then again, sometimes people don’t. Sometimes blessing comes in a shape of ether happiness, sadness and even anger! My “blessing” comes in a shape of being in a disable body…I know what you’re thinking…Why am I typing this Blog? Not wanting the help of feeding yourself, going to the restroom, driving yourself to do errands, etc, etc. The endless list goes on and on. But writing these thoughts is one other thing that I can do to tell the World of my thinking!!

Many think and say that my disability is a blessing; I for one, sometimes call it a curse!! Crying myself to sleep is one thing but wishing upon the attempt to die is another. My heart feels no pain for my own needs and wants; my heart is my curse to my own life and has been since birth!

Caring, loving, respecting, and honoring someone for what they have done is one thing, but how good is all of that…Dead?? Death is the answer to some because they’re tired of a life they live in. I too, get tired most of the time; tired of being in this body, tired of having lonesome worthless disability, tired of asking help, tired of looking in the faces of: “Why do I have to do this”, and tired of just being ME!!

Everyone knows how my life is, but too actually LIVE IT is a whole new world!! Besides, having someone wiping your ass after you dropped one AND having that person wiping you after coming home from a 12-hour shift is not only tiring to them but as for me…it is literary DEATH!!

I remembered once at Papa and Grandma’s house few years ago for Family Home Evening. My Mother had a breakdown for the first-time in my lifetime; she blamed herself for having ME. I sat right beside her and started to cry as she explained the next 15-minutes of why she was tired!! I knew not why the reason for but it was hard for me to hear the tiring words of my Mother as she explains herself the hardships to care for a son who has cerebral palsy and the blessings that comes with the son who do has cerebral palsy!!

Still to his day, I still in need to ask why?? For every “tire look”, my heart aches for the body that shames those who they say it’s a blessing to have me as their: son, brother, nephew, grandson, and friend!! Its hard being me but even strenuous harder for the people who are: Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grand-parents, and friends to me!!

In my everyday life, I may say: “I LOVE LIFE”!! But in reality, it’s a heart-to-heart tough life to love because of all the ins and outs of obtaining what you want!! I have some “real talks” with people and sometimes I wish my real talks were to broadcast everywhere because then, people will know who I am as a person not the person in the chair!!

Names to Remember...Now and Forever!

These names are being named because of one thing only…They are “Truly Brothers and Sisters” of mine!! The names which are listed here should be remembered not only by thought or prayer but also by just being there when I needed help in many attributes of my life!

Words can’t be reached nor neglected by how I feel to have them in my life. No where I rather be in this life is counted by how much is read or said of by these names but my solicitude promise is that these names belongs outside of my own family and that my own family here on earth must praise these names that without them, I’ll be dead or alone in this world that without them that my life wouldn’t be as fulfillment in being able to do the things that is possible outside my family’s reach, my love will always lie upon my Family BUT my love also reaches to those that help me with daily-needs and help me move beyond the outer limits of my daily living!

To those Families above, may they watch over the names that shall be written and bless them with joy and happiness that one day while on earth that they receive the blessings that is rightfully theirs to keep with them and hold them dear in knowing: They are Brothers and Sisters of helping a Brother out and in leading him to the endless possibilities of what life on earth has in store for him now and forever!!

A scripture states in D&C; 84:63: “And as I said unto mine apostles, even so I say unto you, for you are mine apostles, even God’s high priests; ye are they whom my Father hath given me; ye are my friends;”

To a quote by Marlene Dietrich: “It’s the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter.”

Both in quotes and scriptures there’s nothing in this world that words can say how I feel or anyone on this list of names can become a better friend, brother, or sister!! This is what I get when I have these spirits among my life, many know me but others on this list may tell you something extra and tell you with an ambition voice; that he’s name is and he like the same thing as this and that!! Who I am with these people is something special and something more that only they know; this is who am I to these that only they know of me.

The list on this blog is something more to me and to especially my Family above; may they bless them with Love and Enjoyment of life here and beyond this mortal life of Happiness!!

Fall 2008 – Summer 2009:

Brothers:

Gregg Kerren

Parker Dahl

Blaine Sandifer

Russell Alboroto

Jason Cottrell

Aaron Carmack

Trey Sikahema

Taylor Campbell

Austin Mulleneaux

Joseph Thaden

Aaron Havens

Alex Teemsma

Christopher Yegge

Craig Goodwin

Tyler Resse

Aaron Lewis

Billy Oden

Dallin Burns

Geoff Ritter

Phillip Fuchs

Josef Kujanpaa

Kody Wood

Miles Rennick

Sisters:

Christina Izatt

Dawn Becar

Whitney Lewis

Whitney Smith

Whitney Call

Tara Martin

Becca Drumright

Rebecca Wiseman

Jamie Ashby

Katie Linton

Kirsten Bowe

Rachel Long

Fall 2009 – Summer 2010:

Brothers:

Javier Ascanio

Patrick Croskrey

Zach Scoffield

Pepe Uribe

Brian Sanchez

Fanfan Charles

Derek Carmack

David Hughes

Stewart Poulsen

Andrew Rainsdon

Jacob Call

Josh Wheeler

Alex Carnese

Zach Panter

Matthew Morgan

Ryan Brown

Ogden Mills

Craig Holz

Sisters:

Whitni England

Stacey Johnson

Marissa England

Leann Schwegler

Jori Knudsen

Daylin Farias

KariElle Thalman

Brittany Warren

Randee Anderson

McKenzie Giles

Hilary Norton

Lyndsie Jones

Ashley Alley

Michele Rivera

Michele Woodworth

Fall 2010 – Summer 2011:

Brothers:

Daniel Reneer

Stephen Kofoed

Andrew LePray

Tyler Aughenbaugh

Brock Anderson

David Grant

Nate Jensen

Zach Pinter

Tyler Homewood

Michael Kredt

Blake Hopkin

Sisters:

Kelcie Earl

Felicia Jones

Jessy Montclair

Ashley Lovell

Kenzie Young

Lindsey Downing

Melissa Tingey

Alexis Hullinger

Sophie Hofman

Shelby Campbell

The Bishopric That Changed the Path of My Life:

If there were men in my life that has change my well-being of a life one-way or another as a Son of God; other then my own Father…that responsibility will lie upon three men that became more than a Bishopric. To me: They were a Father figure, a long lost Uncle that you thought that he was the Best, to a Friend that always stood up for something more than life itself!! The names of these men are never to be forgotten and forever be engraving in stone in my loving of a heart of mine!! Those names are as follows: Jon Quist, Allen Gurney, Bro. Linford, and last BUT not least Bishop Shane Robbins!!

You might not know the situation of what these men are to me unless you go back through time of three years ago to the date of: August 31^st, 2008!! The start of a friendship that lasted three-years and to THIS DAY, I’m pleased in saying that I’m hoping that our friendship last to the next many years to come! That day was a Sunday and not knowing of which ward to go to; the Tongan Ward or my Wyview Ward? Little that I knew from that day forward that my way of life would change in a sense that a domino-effect will take place and in the long haul ahead, it was the right and best choice I’ve made in life, not only knew these Men but also a long line of other people along the way!

You must give-in to my parents’ ideal peace of mind when it comes to me moving out after that past year of traveling 5-hours round trip to BYU-Provo from our home in Sandy, Utah and even especially my Mother!! One has to think that when kids grow-up to become real working people, rather in college or work that your parents would praise to the heavens above and in singing that classic hymn of: “Halleluiah” when you finally moved out! As for me…My parents didn’t do that; they confide in me in wanting to stay home even they would even move to Provo; which they did a few months later!

The first day of school came and after we saw Helaman Halls a few days prior, we decided to call the On-Campus Housing for other housing because being 26-years old at the time and living with 18-19 years old and sharing a bathroom with 20 different guys sounded too weird for me!! In the upbeat of things, we found a single-room at Wyview!!

Building 26 #344-Bed 3A was my room from August 2008 to April 2009!! Bishop Shane Robbins was my bishop for my first-time out and on my own. I never knew him until I got the chance to meet him after church before I head to the Tongan Ward but after meeting him; something got to me that day!! His mind and most of all his heart was in the right place of welcoming me into the ward formally known as the BYU 81^st Ward in the BYU 12^th Stake that was held in the University Parkway Center. I couldn’t place tabs of what I felt on that date but I knew from that meeting that the BYU 81^st Ward should be the ward I should be in!

No words could describe Bishop Robbins; I was at awe inspired by not only his leadership but also by his love and devotions to our ward not only it was “our ward” but also “our bishopric” as well!! He had that jive in him that nobody or bishop had…he had that fantastic personality, always there when you needed him, had that firm but relax voice for you when you needed a stern Father figure, and always good to talk to about anything and life! This also brings me to his “better half” Sis. Robbins is what you call: A hug when you needed it, Laughter to make you laugh at life, A smile to make you smile at the world, and A kiss on the cheek of who you know that Mom gives to you when you head out for the day ahead!!

Then there’s Bro. Gurney, I would love to say he is the “Grandpa” of the bunch!! Fun in most ways then not but also have that loving grandpa attributes that I love the best. Put together with Sis. Gurney, this couple in their own right is what you call…A match-made in heaven! Ever forgettable, always loving to each other like they were merry for more than anyone in this world!!

Then there’s Bro. Quist, The guys don’t have nothing on his “best bud” personality but has a firm stands on what is true!! Out of the three, Quist is my favorite not only his coolness but he’s the one who you want to talk to at a club dance on about anything: school, friends, and life in general! And with him is his “classy” look, tell it like it is, push-over to make you be true and honest in life, Wife!! One other thing is Quist will be there when life gets to the point where life is hell and will stay until the fire is out and you are ready to talk!!

And lastly Bro. Linford, the “side man” of the bunch but the quiet spirit of his is what I love the most!! Even though he is the odd man out but he will be there at your death bed and because he comes from these three men, you know exactly how life is when he is around!! Quiet in his own way but has a loving heart that loves! And with his Sis. Linford by his side, you know you can always count on him!!

Three years ago on that 2008 year of that Sunday in August. I had my world changed for the better!! I couldn’t foretell the future back then but I’m now grateful to the Lord for that LAST ROOM at Wyview Park Apartments in Building 26 #344-Bed 3A. Years have gone by and to this day my LOVE is felt through many lives!! From Alex Teemsma to Stephen Kofoed and all 25+ guys have somehow come into my life to help me in many ways; from talking to me to taking me to the restroom and EVERYTHING in the middle and beyond of becoming my “BYU Brothers” for life into the next life!

And how could I forget the “right side” of my life, the women in my life?? All started from my girl: Christina Izatt to Kelcie Earl and all 25+ girls have somehow been there when I needed a shoulder to cry on! Also what else could I say but just keep a “Big Brother” eyes on these BYU Sisters of mine!! Queens in this life to the next, Sisters to me, and the “best friends forever” type deal!!

Endless love I have for these people is words I cannot speak, nor all of my gratitude I have for these kind and loving people will never be. Words could not please me more than knowing too, the family of these people! From my “Moms” in California to New York and even my home-state of Utah and everywhere in between! Fathers that hold the Priesthood in blessing me when I need it and keep in mind that they are who they are!!

Even to the Lord blesses me with the Griffin’s Family, they are held in higher towers as well because all they do in my behalf and without them too…I AM surly to NOTHING!!

I hope books are written above in court on High of how a Bishopric changed the path of my life to walk through and meet so many GOOD and AWESOME people in these past three years!! My HEART is felt and my LOVE is and will ALWAYS ring through of how much compassion and endless words I have and hopefully that my words are being heard in a Blog, Facebook, in Music, or even in Prayer that without Jon Quist, Allen Gurney, Bro. Linford, and Bishop Shane Robbins that all of this…Will never start a Friendship or what I LOVE to call it a “Brother of the Family”, will never be possible and this “Path of Life” of mine will NEVER be LIVED!!