Plans for this weekend

If you're in the area this weekend, we highly suggest you go. Here's the website:

http://www.dentonjazzfest.com/index.html

Notes to Self:

*3:00 on a Sunday morning is not an appropriate time to "plan" for Primary music time.

*Do not get Botox.

*In most cases, it is not actually necessary to burn yourself with hot oil to be cast as the Phantom of the Opera.

Texas Bucket List

In no particular order...

1. Beth Marie's Ice Cream
2. The Greenhouse
3. Recycled Books
4. Denton Arts and Jazz Festival
5. I Heart Sushi
6. El Guapo's
7. Mr. Chopsticks
8. Thai Ocha
9. Disc Golf at Northlakes
10. Dallas Shakespeare Festival
11. Zaguan Cafe and Bakery
12. Good Records
13. The Angelika Theater (Dallas)
14. Blue Mesa
15. Cosmic Cafe
16. The Modern
17. Dallas Museum of Art
18. Fuzzy's Tacos
19. Bochy's Bistro
20. Hannah's Off the Square
21. Ravelin Bakery
22. Downtown Mini-malls 1&2
23. Chef Point Cafe
24. Cafe Brazil
25. Mia's Tex-Mex

Yes, I realize that most of this list consists of North Texas restaurants. Your point?

Running

I'm not sure how much time (if any) we've dedicated to our semi-recent foray into the running world. It all started back in October. We got a mailer from Team In Training, a program that raises funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. On a whim, Rachel and I went to an information session, and that same night, enrolled in a half marathon that would take place in Dallas this April.

We didn't end up doing the half marathon due to schedule conflicts, so we opted for a 10K in Fort Worth instead. To date we've participated in three races since December, with plans for another at the end of April.

The goal is to do one each month. So far, we haven't gone above a 10K, but my hope is that we'll be ready for a half in the next year or so.

It's been a really fun experience so far. The running culture is pretty laid back. I think what I like about it is the low barriers to entry (physical, financial, etc). Basically, if you can get a hold of a good pair of shoes, you're good to go.

Right now we're sporting Oasics, but so far we haven't gotten any advertising deals. Maybe after a couple more races...

But seriously, we're having a good time, and I hope that running serves as a gateway to other outdoor activities. It's great timing for a move to Pittsburgh. It looks like there's a lot to do in Pennsylvania and the surrounding states.

Oh yeah. On that note, we've decided to accept Pitt's offer. PA, here we come!

Grad School Admissions: The Results

After months of waiting, we finally have all six admission decisions. I've been checking my e-mail inbox incessantly for the past week in anticipation for the final notice. It came in the mail yesterday.

So, what are our options? Well, it's come down to two:

1) The University of Pittsburgh School of Public and International Affairs
2) The University of North Texas Public Administration Program

In either case, I'd be going for a terminal Master's in Public Administration with a focus on nonprofit management.

Right now, it seems all but certain that Pittsburgh will win out. Though the programs are generally similar, U-Pitt (unfortunate nickname, I know) would put me a lot closer to the DC/NYC international aid and development scene.

If this becomes official, we'll most likely be relocating to the Keystone State around mid-July.

I have until April 15 to accept my scholarship package from Pittsburgh. We'll post our decision prior to that date.

Peace,

Andy (yeah, I know I said I gave up blogging. I lied.)

A Special Witness of Christ

We had the wonderful blessing this weekend to see a prophet of God in person, and to shake his hand. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to visit us right here in Denton (the last time we've had an Apostle come through to our Stake was in 1981, I am told).

Yes, in our Church we believe that there are living prophets and apostles on the earth today. In fact, "We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth" (Article of Faith 1:6). We hear from our Prophet and the Twelve Apostles every six months at General Conference, where there is a huge gathering at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, that is broadcast to our meetinghouses worldwide. Because it is such a worldwide church, though, we rarely get visits here. This was a special treat!

I was impressed with his joyful spirit as he entered the room. He began quickly shaking the hands of the congregation--and when I say "the congregation," I mean that he walked through every pew and shook the hands of each of the (1000? or more?) people present. He had time enough for all of us, young and old alike, just like the Christ of whom he is a special witness. It brought tears to my eyes.

One of the parts of his address that struck me the most was about this principle, of standing as a witness. We covenant at baptism to "stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places," (Mosiah 18:9), but do we really do this? I get "witnessed" to on almost a daily basis at my place of work, yet I am incredibly shy about my own faith. I read devotionals daily, but am afraid to pray--even though I've been saying prayers in public as long as I can remember. I am a terrible witness.

My goal is to reunite the temporal and spiritual sectors of my life, so that there is not any occasion of distinction between the two. Incidentally, one of my favorite talks by Elder Oaks, "The Challenge To Become" relates to this topic. If we are true disciples of Christ, it will show in how we live our lives each day, not just on Sunday.

I know that Christ lives and that He loves me. I know that because He loves me, He gave His life so that I might repent and return to live with our Father in Heaven. I know that He sends his prophets to the earth to guide us and lead us back to Him when we stray, and that there are such prophets on the earth today! I know that we are called to love and serve one another as Christ would, which means loving without question. I know our Father in Heaven sent the scriptures so that we could learn of Him, and that in their pages are the things that will lead us closer to Him.

I'm grateful for the gospel light in my life.

Silver, gold.

Make new friends, but keep the old.
One is silver, the other is gold.

This weekend has been one of the busiest I can recall. Also, it has been one of the best I have had in recent memory.

It started out by having dinner with the ol' quartet on Friday evening. I haven't kept in touch with those guys since having finished at UNT. It's amazing how quickly you forget how much you enjoy being around a person if you haven't seen them in a while! Luckily for me, Colin is better at maintaining friendships than I am, and lets me know when he's in town. We invited him for dinner, and decided to invite the other guys while we were at it, for a little reunion of sorts. Having a good friend is like riding a bike--it just comes right back to you.

Today began at the nursing home, singing primary songs with the kiddos. It was a wonderful experience to see the residents beaming, and to see the kids just singing their little hearts out. I'm proud of those little guys!

After that experience, we had lunch with the Hartfields, eating some excellent pizza (Hot Box, yes!) and enjoying still more excellent company. It's crazy--I've known those guys since we were in Chem-nasty together in high school! Now they have a little baby girl who is so ridiculously adorable. She has two really good parents--warm, kind, and just . . . sparkly. I don't know. They're good people.

As if that's not enough fun, then I got to go to a wedding reception of two more high school friends. It was a mini high school reunion in its own rite. I haven't seen most of these people since I graduated in '03. Yikes.

The thing that has gotten me about this weekend, though, is that people do change, but they stay the same, too. I guess there are characteristics that are inherent in us, and we will always be who we are at the core. There is something comforting about that. We grow, and we progress, but we will always be the same collection of traits, of characteristics that make us unique.

Let the fun continue.