Hey everyone! I have some good news. I finally finished posting pictures with my mission emails from September 2005 through March 1, 2006 (I know, 3 years late). Most of you have already read those letters, but if you want to see some pictures, then check it out!
I am also hoping to eventually put up my letters from the MTC, but that may take a bit longer, and who knows if anyone would even be interested by then. I still may do it for myself, we shall see.
Anyway, enjoy and thanks to all those who are interested in my blog!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Following
Hey everyone, I added a new gadget to my sidebar. It shows those who follow my blog. This is an easy way to keep updated on my blog. It adds it to the reading list on the blogger dashboard. I'm not sure on all the details, but apparently if you go to the blogger dashboard, it will let you know when I have posted to my blog. Check it out!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Secret to Success
Today at BYU we had an interesting forum given by Arthur C Brooks, author of Gross National Happiness "Why Giving Matters." He detailed some research that he has done that shows that people who make charitable donations are more prosperous than those who don't. It was really interesting to see evidence of what I've always believed. Although I, as well as Arthur Brooks, believe that God plays a part in this, that He does what He says: blesses those who help others, if you don't believe in God, that doesn't mean that you can't believe that charity brings prosperity. It is interesting because this idea is illustrated beautifully in the Book of Mormon, that when the Nephites were righteous, (which included caring for the poor), they prospered. When they were wicked (which included robbing and despising the poor) they fell on much harder times.
So, the results of his studies showed that it is a kind of cycle: those who give end up making more and then they give more. He also showed that contrary to world opinion (this includes the opinion of Americans as well) Americans are among the most generous people in the world. I don't remember the exact numbers, but he showed that Americans are 3 times more generous than the French, 7 (?) times more generous than Germans, and 14 times more generous then Italians. That is a big difference. Americans also give away about $300 billion dollars every year, more than some countries make in an entire year.
Being a social scientist, he wanted to find something concrete that he could pin it to. He is Roman Catholic, and although his faith is important to him, it is hard to base research on faith, unless you are publishing in theology. So he went to a psychologist friend who gave him a good place to start. When people give more, they are happier. That greater happiness in turn leads to greater productivity which leads to greater prosperity. Greater happiness also leads to reduced stress which in turn leads to increased health and therefore, again, greater prosperity. It is a vicious cycle.
Anyway, I was really impressed by what he had to say, even more so that he used a quote from the Book of Mormon. He ended with an amusing, but interesting story. He told about how the last time he came to BYU, he was given a nice briefcase with a BYU written on it. He put it away because he already had a briefcase, but down the road, his briefcase broke. He took out the BYU briefcase and started to carry his things in that. What he related next was quite interesting. He said that carrying the briefcase began to change him. He realized that people would see him carrying that briefcase and think that he was a Mormon. Although some people might be upset by this connection, he said that he didn't want to let down the reputation that Latter-day Saints (LDS) have built for themselves. He started to become more charitable, to become a better person, and as a result, became happier.
Who would have known that the idea that others are equating you with certain standards and a certain reputation could have such an impact for good? I guess that just leaves the members of the church to live up to the same standard.
So, the results of his studies showed that it is a kind of cycle: those who give end up making more and then they give more. He also showed that contrary to world opinion (this includes the opinion of Americans as well) Americans are among the most generous people in the world. I don't remember the exact numbers, but he showed that Americans are 3 times more generous than the French, 7 (?) times more generous than Germans, and 14 times more generous then Italians. That is a big difference. Americans also give away about $300 billion dollars every year, more than some countries make in an entire year.
Being a social scientist, he wanted to find something concrete that he could pin it to. He is Roman Catholic, and although his faith is important to him, it is hard to base research on faith, unless you are publishing in theology. So he went to a psychologist friend who gave him a good place to start. When people give more, they are happier. That greater happiness in turn leads to greater productivity which leads to greater prosperity. Greater happiness also leads to reduced stress which in turn leads to increased health and therefore, again, greater prosperity. It is a vicious cycle.
Anyway, I was really impressed by what he had to say, even more so that he used a quote from the Book of Mormon. He ended with an amusing, but interesting story. He told about how the last time he came to BYU, he was given a nice briefcase with a BYU written on it. He put it away because he already had a briefcase, but down the road, his briefcase broke. He took out the BYU briefcase and started to carry his things in that. What he related next was quite interesting. He said that carrying the briefcase began to change him. He realized that people would see him carrying that briefcase and think that he was a Mormon. Although some people might be upset by this connection, he said that he didn't want to let down the reputation that Latter-day Saints (LDS) have built for themselves. He started to become more charitable, to become a better person, and as a result, became happier.
Who would have known that the idea that others are equating you with certain standards and a certain reputation could have such an impact for good? I guess that just leaves the members of the church to live up to the same standard.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Fun times and not so fun times
Well, this weekend has been quite an interesting one, full of surprises. On Saturday evening I went to my cousin's Mary Kay party (for her birthday). It was a lot of fun. I made pumpkin cobbler to give her. It turned out really good considering I'd never made it before and didn't have all the spices that the recipe called for, so I had to wing it. At least my sister and I really liked it.
Then when my sister, who was at work, came home, I was met with some bad news. Well, as she put it, with some bad news and some not as bad news. She was let go, BUT when they start getting more customers, they might call her to see if she can work. That really sucks because its not like she was working very much as it is. They said it was so people could get unemployment, but as far as I know, you have to have been working long enough to prove that you are entitled that much money to get unemployment. That means that Sara doesn't qualify. And that really sucks because I don't make enough to pay for all of our expenses . . . which means that if we pay rent, we have no (literally) money for food . . . or utilities . . . or anything else. But, I am a full tithe payer. That means, don't despair! We have been promised that if we pay tithing, the "windows of heaven" will open up and the blessings will be poured out so that we "will not have room enough to receive them." That is going to happen for me. I'm not sure how. In some ways it already has, I got a half-tuition scholarship for this semester, plus a federal pell grant, and a stafford loan, so now we just need so heavenly assistance to get us through the next few months (hopefully less) until Sara can find another job.
Well, that was great news to meet us for Sunday. Yesterday was a normal Sunday. We went to church, and it was really good. After church I had a ward council meeting that I went to. After that, I went home and was actually able to relax a little! (But just a little). It was nice.
Today I had my OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview), a national test on my ability to speak my second language (in this case, Russian). I hope it went better than I imagine. I don't think it went horribly, but I know that I messed up a lot. Hopefully it wasn't enough to dock my score too much, because I speak better than I did for the interview.
Anyway, it is nice to have that over. Oh, funny thing happened to me today. I went to class at 10 this morning, as usual, but after class I had to run home. I didn't have a lot of time because my OPI was scheduled for noon, so I hurried to my car. It was a good thing that I needed to run home because it turns out that my radio had been left on! I'm pretty sure that the radio would have killed my car if I hadn't left campus until the time that I will be going home for good, today. Count your blessings!
Then when my sister, who was at work, came home, I was met with some bad news. Well, as she put it, with some bad news and some not as bad news. She was let go, BUT when they start getting more customers, they might call her to see if she can work. That really sucks because its not like she was working very much as it is. They said it was so people could get unemployment, but as far as I know, you have to have been working long enough to prove that you are entitled that much money to get unemployment. That means that Sara doesn't qualify. And that really sucks because I don't make enough to pay for all of our expenses . . . which means that if we pay rent, we have no (literally) money for food . . . or utilities . . . or anything else. But, I am a full tithe payer. That means, don't despair! We have been promised that if we pay tithing, the "windows of heaven" will open up and the blessings will be poured out so that we "will not have room enough to receive them." That is going to happen for me. I'm not sure how. In some ways it already has, I got a half-tuition scholarship for this semester, plus a federal pell grant, and a stafford loan, so now we just need so heavenly assistance to get us through the next few months (hopefully less) until Sara can find another job.
Well, that was great news to meet us for Sunday. Yesterday was a normal Sunday. We went to church, and it was really good. After church I had a ward council meeting that I went to. After that, I went home and was actually able to relax a little! (But just a little). It was nice.
Today I had my OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview), a national test on my ability to speak my second language (in this case, Russian). I hope it went better than I imagine. I don't think it went horribly, but I know that I messed up a lot. Hopefully it wasn't enough to dock my score too much, because I speak better than I did for the interview.
Anyway, it is nice to have that over. Oh, funny thing happened to me today. I went to class at 10 this morning, as usual, but after class I had to run home. I didn't have a lot of time because my OPI was scheduled for noon, so I hurried to my car. It was a good thing that I needed to run home because it turns out that my radio had been left on! I'm pretty sure that the radio would have killed my car if I hadn't left campus until the time that I will be going home for good, today. Count your blessings!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Why you should never trust photographs
Today I was thinking (I sometimes do that) and decided to spend a little time on photoshop editing a picture that I have. When I first saw how it came out, I was a little disappointed, it was too hard to see me and there were others in the shot, but there was nothing I could do about it... That is, at the time. So, here is my edited photo in the different stages. First is the original, next I removed the people, then I made myself larger.
So what do you think? Pretty easy, huh? I don't like the resize as much because when enlarged, I am pixelated, but that is why I kept the other, just removal of the people.
So what do you think? Pretty easy, huh? I don't like the resize as much because when enlarged, I am pixelated, but that is why I kept the other, just removal of the people.
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