The Hunt

Well, the job hunt is on.  I really have no idea what to do in this big bad world in which we live, but I am being thrust into it at a rather rapid rate.  I graduate from college next friday, have no job and have no idea what the future holds.  It's rather exciting.  I have been looking for work, planning a wedding, keeping up with the last few weeks of school and trying to find a few minutes here and there to sleep when possible.  Life is good.  We also got our engagement pictures recently and there turned out pretty good.  We had so much fun.  I'm currently uploading this post from Peet's, one of my favorite places in the world, but real life calls (and I probably shouldn't have spent money on coffee when I don't have a job, but I'm a sucker for the heavenly black substance... or the white chocolate mocha to be more specific)

"The Show Must Go On"

It is now official, today is my last day at AMTSJ.  It has been an interesting few months.  I had a great time and met a lot of really great people, but it is now time to move on.  Some of my favorite memories happened at "It's a Grind" coffee shop.  Many great conversations with really interesting and incredible people.   

I started only a short time ago working under the great T. Douglas.  I learned so much in the time spent working under him.  I got to visit a lot of really cool places, participate in "big people" meetings and work with some of the best printers in the world (Pisani).  

Although it is now at the end, it will not be soon forgotten.  The lessons learned will last me a lifetime.  It is truly a bittersweet time for me as I close this portion of my senior year and pursue new projects.

The End is in Sight

With only 23 more days until I leave the great North Valley Baptist Church and Golden State Baptist College, the world is starting to look a bit bigger than it has in more recent years.  Prior to this year, the world has been an interesting exciting adventure, but is taking on a different role.  In the days of yesteryear as a small child everything seemed so big, but an overall opinion was "It's a small world after all!"  The world can sometimes be a little intimidating and downright scary.  I'm about to finish college, become a big boy, get a real job, house payment, insurance, cell phones, taxes, taxes, taxes and many other things (a wife being one of the greatest things on this planet!).  It can be intimidating however.  Choices are never easy.  Some people let you down, others really surprise you and still others just sit by like bumps on a log.  Right when you think you know everything, something/someone reminds you that in the grand scheme of things, you know nothing.  Let it just be known to all right now, "I KNOW NOTHING!"  

People are very interesting.  They all have so many different views.  I do not understand one particular thing however.  People all "believe" something.  That is a fact.  They do not know why they believe it.  For some reason saying "I believe ________" makes it ok, but what makes it ok?  Who says that "All roads lead to Rome?"  Where does it say that when people do bad things there is no consequence.  The truth of the matter is this:

1. All Roads do not lead to Rome (Since I drive on De La Cruz Blvd everyday from one end to the other and still have not seen the Trevi Fountain on my way to work)

2. There are always consequences for all of our actions.  (Good and Bad)

This means that we, as humans, can't look at ourselves or our knowledge for any answers, but most go Higher.  Someone knows more than us and He has the answers.  Please find (big old fashioned word that is rarely used any more) "Doctrine" for what you believe rather than just telling me what you believe.  Tell me why you believe it and Who says we should believe it.  Just because I think that cars should run without using gasoline doesn't make it a reality.

I have talked with several people over the past few weeks and this has been a general theme.  I am not wanting anyone to be offended by this post, but to get people to think.

This post started out to explain the big bad world that is rapidly approaching and the choices involved within.  I sure am excited, scared, happy and sad all at the same time every  moment I am awake.  Lots of decisions that will not only affect me, but many of the people around me, including my future bride and love of my life, Stephanie.  I can't trust myself for these decisions because as previously stated, I know nothing, therefore, God's Word will have to guide me every step of the way.

The Meeting

So, today is the day... perhaps that will live an infamy.  Ok, so maybe that's a little dramatic, but it is a big day.  Today Stephanie and I will go to dinner with her parents and my parents for the first time.  Yes, it is the big "parental units" first meeting.  If I may quote a good friend I would say, "It feels like my insides want to come outside!"  It's ok, I'm sure everything will be fine, but it is a very nerve racking thing.  Below are pictures of my parents and her parents.  

Here is a picture that was taken of Stephanie and I at Jared and Liz's wedding.  It turned out pretty good.   Duh, I'm in it... Oh ya, and Stephanie too.  :)  Actually it was Stephen Troell who took the picture.  He is the world's greatest photographer.  Literally!

The America of the Past in the Future?

Today is a pivotal day in the history of not only the greatest country on the globe, but it will also have a unprecedented impact on the world.  Who will win the 2008 Presidential election?  Obama or McCain?  To be completely honest, I am not a fan of either candidate, but I did vote today.  It is my duty to do all I can for this country.

While this is a big deal, I believe that the bigger issue is sitting on the plates of the California public.  Proposition 8.  This is the balance of where America will go in the future.  For those who vote "NO" on Prop 8 are voting that a man and a man or a woman and a woman can be married.  For those people who vote "YES" on Prop 8 they are voting to protect the marriage of a man and a woman.  This will have a drastic effect on America if it gets voted down.  This will especially burden the churches.  It will make it a hate crime to teach that sodomy is a sin.  This has the potential to put Pastors in jail for teaching God's Word.  This, then is going against our First Amendment of the United States of America which promises us the freedom of speech and practice of religion.  

It is a scary day in which we live that our country is persecuting it's own people for religious freedoms and moving towards a socialistic government.  It is not the governments job to give things to the people, nor to take from the rich and give to the poor.  It is the governments job to protect the rights of the people.  If a man doesn't work, neither should he eat.

The World's Most Awkward Kiss... Literally

It is now official, Jared and Liz had the worlds most awkward kiss ever on the planet today at their wedding in Toledo, OH.  They went in for the kill and their heads bounced off each other like a raquetball bouncing off a wall.  It was so bad, that Jared's best man/also his dad said, "uh, kids, try that again"  It was only 1/3 of a second the second time and it was twice as long as the first one. hehe, It was so incredibly sad that I couldn't help but laugh almost on the ground.  Props to the couple for keeping it fundamental!  Here is a picture of the happy couple.

The Date is Set

March 6, 2009 will be the first day of the rest of my life.  We finally have a date, a place for the ceremony and everything is going to work out just great! (That's because I'm the man and don't have to stress about planning like Stephanie does).  The ceremony will be held at The North Valley Baptist Church located at 3530 De La Cruz Blvd. Santa Clara, CA.  There will be a reception following (location TBD). It is so exciting to start planning things like this.  It can definitely be stressful at times, but it really is a lot of fun.  Just thought you might like the quick update.

We're engaged!!

So, it is now official... I am off the market for good. (I know, I know, girls all over the planet are sighing of sadness)  Ha, I wish.  I got engaged a few weeks ago on July 10, 2008.  I flew to California with the ring and a puzzle in hand.  The puzzle was a picture of me with a sign in my hand reading, "Will You Marry Me?"  I hid the puzzle at a park nearby and had some of her friends "take her out to dinner" for her birthday, but forgot that they had to stop by the park to pick up their daughters sand toys.  Stephanie (my fiancé's name) said she would help and found the toys.  When she picked them up she found the puzzle under them.  She called me and put the puzzle together then I came walking around the corner with the ring in hand.  It was perfect because it was a complete shock to her.  I don't have any pictures from that night yet, but here are several pictures of us before then.

Choices

Sometimes it seems that growing up isn't all it was once cracked up to be.  I used to dream of the days when I would wake up really early, get some of that yucky, no sugar cereal and hit the road to the job of my dreams.  Ah, what a life!  I was sure that life would be great.  Then, it hit me.  Choices.  Decisions.  They really aren't that great.  In fact, they can be really hard.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being able to make these incredible, mature thoughts and doing it all on my own, but sometimes life throws you a curve ball.  Those are the interesting times in life.  The world suddenly changes from this happy-go-lucky place to the cold desolate tundra in which no one will make these hard life altering option for you.  Life is one moment a "lemonade stand" and the next a quick marketing scheme to rip every last cent a bit of dignity that you have worked so hard for the past 2 years.  It also seems as if the hardest choices in life are the ones that everyone so nicely states, "That is your life and I can't tell you what to do.  You have to make that choice for yourself, but don't worry, I'm sure you'll do the right thing."  Who says that?  How is the next generation supposed to know what to do if the last one doesn't tell them the right and wrong choices?  That is why this nation is so discombobulated.  It drives me nuts that we are supposed to know what to do, don't know how and then get a talking to when we make the wrong opinion.  Choices are no longer fun.  They are no longer freeing, but rather enslaving.  I want to go back to the days of choosing cocoa-puffs or cookie crisp.  What happened to those days?  Now I am choosing where I will live, work, who I will marry, associate myself with, where I will spend money and how much I will spend.  I don't think I signed up for all this, I just want to go swimming during the summer, not work and save and think.  Choices aren't life's greatest invention and every day the choices get harder.  The sweet taste of a choice made correctly at the end of the day makes it all worth it.  The ability to pillow one's head at night knowing right was victorious is one of the best feelings in the world, especially when it was your choice that made right... right.

Choices

Sometimes it seems that growing up isn't all it was once cracked up to be.  I used to dream of the days when I would wake up really early, get some of that yucky, no sugar cereal and hit the road to the job of my dreams.  Ah, what a life!  I was sure that life would be great.  Then, it hit me.  Choices.  Decisions.  They really aren't that great.  In fact, they can be really hard.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being able to make these incredible, mature thoughts and doing it all on my own, but sometimes life throws you a curve ball.  Those are the interesting times in life.  The world suddenly changes from this happy-go-lucky place to the cold desolate tundra in which no one will make these hard life altering option for you.  Life is one moment a "lemonade stand" and the next a quick marketing scheme to rip every last cent a bit of dignity that you have worked so hard for the past 2 years.  It also seems as if the hardest choices in life are the ones that everyone so nicely states, "That is your life and I can't tell you what to do.  You have to make that choice for yourself, but don't worry, I'm sure you'll do the right thing."  Who says that?  How is the next generation supposed to know what to do if the last one doesn't tell them the right and wrong choices?  That is why this nation is so discombobulated.  It drives me nuts that we are supposed to know what to do, don't know how and then get a talking to when we make the wrong opinion.  Choices are no longer fun.  They are no longer freeing, but rather enslaving.  I want to go back to the days of choosing cocoa-puffs or cookie crisp.  What happened to those days?  Now I am choosing where I will live, work, who I will marry, associate myself with, where I will spend money and how much I will spend.  I don't think I signed up for all this, I just want to go swimming during the summer, not work and save and think.  Choices aren't life's greatest invention and every day the choices get harder.  The sweet taste of a choice made correctly at the end of the day makes it all worth it.  The ability to pillow one's head at night knowing right was victorious is one of the best feelings in the world, especially when it was your choice that made right... right.

6th Floor Museum

So, this weekend, I was able to check out the 6th Floor Museum in the Dallas Book Depository.  This is where Lee Harvey Oswald took those three shots at JFK.  There was so much history there and was incredible to stand in the same room where Oswald once stood.  I also strolled over to the grassy knoll and looked around.  The footage that was shown inside the museum was weird.  Who knew they had personal video cameras around in the 60s?  I sure didn't, I thought those came along later, but I guess I don't know everything.  :)  Anyway, This is a must see if ever in Dallas.

6th Floor Museum

So, this weekend, I was able to check out the 6th Floor Museum in the Dallas Book Depository.  This is where Lee Harvey Oswald took those three shots at JFK.  There was so much history there and was incredible to stand in the same room where Oswald once stood.  I also strolled over to the grassy knoll and looked around.  The footage that was shown inside the museum was weird.  Who knew they had personal video cameras around in the 60s?  I sure didn't, I thought those came along later, but I guess I don't know everything.  :)  Anyway, This is a must see if ever in Dallas.

Take it easy on me, I'm a first timer...

So, it's official, this is my first blog.  I'm  a little nervous that I'm going to get sucked into something that will take the rest of my life to keep up with, but it's pretty exciting at the same time.  It also helps that since I'm living in Texas for the summer, I have no friends and no life, I will have plenty of time to blog my life away.  (Thank you Ashley Belnap for wasting the rest of my summer).  Anyway, hopefully this will help you get to know me more.  If that is possible.

Take it easy on me, I'm a first timer...

So, it's official, this is my first blog.  I'm  a little nervous that I'm going to get sucked into something that will take the rest of my life to keep up with, but it's pretty exciting at the same time.  It also helps that since I'm living in Texas for the summer, I have no friends and no life, I will have plenty of time to blog my life away.  (Thank you Ashley Belnap for wasting the rest of my summer).  Anyway, hopefully this will help you get to know me more.  If that is possible.