This goes out to Katie Romero.

Today's blog is about hope. First of all...anyone who is reading this should know that it is now 2 in the morning, and my thinking skills and humor both go downhill pretty quickly around this time. However, I think I will not apologize too much to my unknown audience, because I am quite confident that I only have one faithful follower out there who ever reads this thing: Her name is Katie Moreno (My hopeful roommate).

Hope >; verb. To check Bethany's blog every day. Even though she herself has not opened her own blog in about a year. Day after day dragging your mouse over that lonely link only to find that, no, Bethany did not blog today either.

Okay Katie, there you go! I blogged for you. And I am really tired now. I have a feeling I might be found somewhere on campus, looking like this tomorrow.

PS I took this picture. Isn't it AWESOME!
PSS If you are the guy in this picture who fell asleep with your head about to fall off. And if you have somehow found my blog - I'm sorry that I took a picture of you without asking. 

While Conscience Claps, Let the World Hiss

I have been studying the Biography of John Adams for a class I am taking. When I came upon this line in the book, I loved it so much!  I'm not through his whole biography yet, but I've read far enough to see that these words were not just well-put, but were well-lived by John Adams:

“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own approbation. But upon the stage of life, while conscience claps, let the world hiss! On the contrary if conscience disapproves, the loudest applause of the world are of little value." - John Adams

the name of my blog

When I was living in Minnesota, we had a devotional, and a guy who served his mission in Peru shared this story. I have thought about it many times since, and it's actually where I got the name of my blog:

The streets of Lima, Peru are crowded and loud. The sidewalks are littered with venders and cars are honking at every corner. The masses of people make it nearly impossible to keep track of your companion in the crowd.
The country is much different. It's quiet. And people have their own space and their own peace in the comfort of their humble homes. The doors are nothing but a hand-made blanket, draping over the entrance.
The Peruvians have created a unique system of communication that they use in both the noisy city and the silent countryside. Each family (and sometimes groups of close friends) will invent a little tune that they whistle to recognize each other.

The missionary telling the story said that one time he and his companion were in the city and they saw a little girl run past them, grab a little bucket, turn it over, and stand on top of it. She surveyed her surroundings, trying to locate her mom or dad, and when she could not see them anywhere, she whistled their family tune. She did it a few times, and before long her dad appeared behind her and lifted her off the bucket. He heard the whistle and came.

He also told of a time when him and his companion were walking in the country-side when they heard a man whistle a cheerful tune behind them. Only two seconds later the missionaries saw four little children run through their blanket doorway to their father (the man who whistled) who was on his way home from work. They heard the whistle and came.

What I loved the most about this story is how it applies to us in terms of being in tune to the spirit. Whether in moments of chaos or of peace, we can can recognize the familiar sound of the voice of the Holy Ghost and gain direction from it.

buy a stanger a coke

So we were given this assignment to "buy a stranger a coke." It obviously didn't have to be a coke. It could be anything, but it had to be for a stranger. I went to Subway and as I was standing in line I noticed a cute couple (two chinese students) trying to decide what they wanted. I heard them negotiating between the one that sounded really good, and the one that was the most reasonably priced. It was my perfect opportunity! I paid for mine, and then told the clerk that I'd be paying for theirs as well.

I think when Brother Clarke gave us this assignment he intended that we actually approach the person/people and offer to buy something for them (so that we could write about how they reacted), but I ended up just leaving it anonymous. I left before I could see any kind of reaction from them. But it was a great assignment : )

Ten Simple Joys of This Last Week:

1. Talking to my best friend Annie for about an hour and a half yesterday.

2. The most amazing yellow and red fall colors - sharing a love for Autumn with my Mom.

3. Two missionary opportunities (and a chance to see my nephew be baptized this Saturday).

4. A pair of hand-made socks given to me by one of the couples I've been teaching in the MTC

5. The way harmony sounds in music

6. My little sister just calling me to say that she loved me and a sweet letter from my dad.

7. Glow in the dark croquet and breakfast/dinner at Denny' with some of my best friends in the ward.

8. A good score on a stats test...moments of understanding!

9. Honest conversations.

10. Jumping in a bath-tub of warm water (with my clothes on) just because I wanted to!

YesSsSs...

The other day I was leaving work, a six-hour shift, and I was starving! As I was getting into my car, I remembered that my fridge was empty and shelves were bare at home. "I'll just stop somewhere on my home," I thought, and started my car. Well, in order to get food, I should have gone right - but I was totally oblivious to the fact that I'd gone left until I found myself driving through some weird construction site and was in one-way traffic surrounded completely by orange cones on both sides of me. At the end of the construction detour I was finally spit out into a parking lot west of the BYU stadium. The parking lot was usually vacant, but today was packed with buses and families wlaking into the stadium. A state-wide highschool band competition was being held in the stadium. Still starving, I hardly had patience for all these people walking so slowly in front of my car and all these buses parked tightly next to the curb (still making it impossible for me to turn around). As I came around the corner there was a beautiful sight: Three huge pic-nic tables covered with food. People were standing around with steaming plates of mashed-potatoes and steak and corn. Then I noticed something even more beauiful: a glass bottel with a few dollars inside. It was a fund-raiser! I parked my car and jumped out to buy some food. As I got closer to the glass-bottel though, it wasn't money in there - it was just paper. Feeling sheepish, I started walking away, and then I heard someone call out. "Can we help you dear?" "No, no." I waved my hands, "I thought this was a fund-raiser." I was half-way in my car when the sweet lady ran over to me and insited that I get out and have a plate of food. It was so nice of her. And it looks like my left-hand turn wasn't such a mistake afterall.

Katy Irene Williams

After Conference on Sunday, Leah and I went to Layton to meet little Katy Irene, the newest member of our family (number 17 of the neices and nephews). She is SO beautiful! Sometimes newborns are a little beat-up from the trip and take a couple weeks before they really look cute. Katy is perfect though.
It was so precious to see Adam and Elise sit with big grins and open arms as Mark laid their new baby sister into their laps for the first time.

I have so much admiration for my brothers and sisters! Being a dad or a mom is sure a great trust that the Lord puts in us. You are all such natural parents; so prepared and strong. I can't imagine how overwhelming it must be at times to hold a brand new baby (straight from heaven) in your arms, and have their whole life rest in your care. I love you all! Congradulations Mark and Renee!