Merry Christmas!!!

Here's a great video of my cute sister-in-law singing Christmas songs.  Have a wonderful Christmas!!!
 

Christmas - A Message of Hope and Peace, even for Newtown

Here I am, posting on the last day of the world, according to someone who misinterpreted the Mayan calendar.  I am confident that there will be many days of blogging and of life to come.

I was very tempted to write something political in relation to the shooting that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut last week.  I could have written something about the way the situation was handled, could have been handled, should be handled in the future.  I could have commented on gun control, mental health issue awareness, or a multitude of other related topics.  As I began typing, I have realized that this isn't what really needs to be discussed.

Why did this event make headlines all over the country?  Why are the events of a tragic day in a New England town slightly larger than Eagle Mountain showing up on the front page of my newspaper?  Precisely because they are tragic.  Because there are parents in this town who have lost children and are grieving their loss.  Because we have a glimpse into what they are feeling by imagining how we might feel had this happened to us and our children.  Because even though we are on the other side of the country, we feel obligated to help them in some way.

But what can we do?  We certainly cannot return their children to them.  We can, however, comfort them and bring them happiness this Christmas.  How?  Simply by focusing on the meaning of Christmas.

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  Why are the events of a silent night in a Middle Eastern town slightly larger than Tocquerville celebrated on an international level?  Because they were the beginning of an incredible mortal ministry of the Son of God, the beginning of another reteaching of the eternal truths of God.  Because His life would eventually lead to His death, and a Heavenly Father grieving over the suffering and death of His Son.  Because Christ gained a perfect vision and experienced everything everyone would ever feel.  Because even though it occurred on the other side of the world, His love helps and heals all men everywhere that allow it to.

Just as the wise men in the Bible, we must seek Him.  As we learn about Him, and as we learn His teachings, our hearts will be healed and made whole, and our struggling souls sustained.  We can learn of His marvelous plan, more marvelous than His birth, that we will one day be reunited with our families, and that we are entitled to live with them eternally, if we so desire.  We can learn that He has not left us alone, nor abandoned the world, but has sent messengers to communicate to us what He would have us do.

The true meaning of Christmas is not what we will receive, but what we will give in return to the One who gave the greatest gift of all.

Things I Like

I've recently discovered that I like a lot of new things.  I like when my wife cuddles with me.  I like going to Primary to teach and play with our new autistic friend.  I like being a horse and crawling around the room, even if it gives me a rugburn on my knuckles.  I like going to school and taking math finals, mostly because it means that I'm done with the class.  It helps that the test was timed, but open book.  I seeing the snow fall and wondering if Heavenly Father thinks the snow is as pretty as I think it is.  I like slipping down the hill south of the Clyde building, and then not feeling guilty watching other people slip down the same hill while I'm waiting for my wife to come pick me up.

Most of all, I like coming home and feeling the love and the Spirit in our home.

Video that my sister-in-law made!

They spent a good hour or so doing the voice-overs in my house, so I've heard this multiple times.  I'm proud to say that my woman is definitely a leader!

Exciting Announcement!

Guess where my brother's going on his mission!
I guessed Canada.  We're still waiting for his call to come.

I don't know if you got tricked into reading this by the title.  But the announcement is that, in case you haven't heard, my brother and I have started a satirical blog together!  I guess you could call it a 'slog'.  Anyway, click this link to get to it, or there's the 'Thurston Brothers' link on the sidebar too.

The other announcement is that I love my wife! A lot! Yep. She's pretty, cute, and a wonderful wife.  I'm so glad I get her forever.

Also, don't forget to check in next week for the results of the first round of the GKTAEF.

GKTAEF 2013 - Round 1

The regular season is over, and here is how the GKTAEF Round 1 games have shaped up.

Notre Dame vs.  Tulsa
Oklahoma vs.  Florida State
Stanford vs.  Boise State
Alabama vs. Utah State
Florida vs. Wisconsin
Oregon vs. Northern Illinois
Ohio State vs. Arkansas State
Kansas State vs. Louisville

Round 1 starts on December 15th.  Be sure to check the GKTAEF page above to see how things play out.
Also, a reminder that there is still time to join the College Bowl Mania game on ESPN.com.
Group name: MUU Contest
Password: muu2013