Destroying A Rumor :)

One of the greatest friends I have made while living in Henderson is my excellent friend Tara Richards. She and I have been in classes together since Freshman year, but we didn't ever say a word to each other until sophomore year when we would talk every now and then.

Tara moved to Coronado High School after sophomore year, and I thought I'd never see her again. However, one day during the second semester of junior year, Tara returned to Foothill, and she was in a few of my classes. And that was the beginning of what became an excellent, excellent friendship. (First Climax, BTW: Working at El Pollo Loco together during the summer!)
Tara and I do almost everything together. We hang out during the weekdays when most people our age don't. And we are always making each other laugh. We tell each other everything, and we trust each other. :)

Well, our best-friendship caught people's attention, but they didn't exactly get the right idea of it all. At school, rumors are spreading about me and Tara like crazy--We have both had multiple people come up to us and say, "So how is Tara/Ben? I heard you guys were dating?"

Tara and I were talking about it tonight after the Foothill basketball game, and we were talking about how funny everyone was for thinking that she and I were dating. While in the bathroom at El Pollo Loco, I thought of an excellent idea that would help me and Tara get rid of all the rumors: We would both wear shirts with the words "No, I am not dating Tara/Ben" on them tomorrow at school. And so we got to work...

Tara working on her shirt!

Me and Tara!

The Back of My Shirt!

The front of my shirt!

The Back of Tara's Shirt!

The Front of Tara's Shirt!

Me and Tara modeling our sweet shirts!

The back of our shirts FTW.

And one more thing about Tara: She isn't LDS. :) But she is very interested in the Gospel, and I have taught her a lot. She has been over for a few Family Home Evenings, and she is now wanting to take the discussions! She said I could baptize her, too. ;) It is all very exciting, and I hope everything works out. If you guys don't mind, could you pray for me as I continue sharing the Gospel with Tara? This has been an excellent way for me to prepare for my mission!! :)

Memory Lane: August 30, 2004 (AKA "The Day Without A Dinner")

Another entry from my past. Yesterday's was hard to beat, but this one is pretty rich!!

Da Journal,

Today was good. I went to school, and it was educational. I had a couple make up thangs to do, due to my absence Friday. Twas good. I took this test in Algebra, and I didn't know the last four questions, so I just sat there staring at my paper until the class period was up. Then, I gave it to my teacher and informed her I wasn't finished and demanded more time tomorrow to finish it. So now I can get the last four questions on the test tonight. YAY. Yes, I know it's kinda bad to do thangs like that, but I need to get A's in there since we are getting interims/progress reports soon, and I want to have decent grades. So yeah. I also talked to a few buddies. It was nice. We went to to Sam's Club for FHE, to get some ice cream. It was really fresh and tasty! And then, when we got home, we continued FHE by reading from Mosiah Chapter 17. Twas a good chapter. The good man, Abinadi, suffered and burnt to death just because he was telling the people the truth! Very horrible. Anyways. Other than that, all I did was sit on my computer all day and Jig to some funky fresh music! haha. Well, I better go, for I have another long day of lonely school tomorrow! (STILL no friends in any classes, dangit! Oh Well.) Take it easy, take it easy.

B.D.N.

Memory Lane: October 29, 2004 (AKA "Many, Many Days Without Writing")

Wow. Just wow. I hope everyone enjoys this one. I read it, and I about peed myself. I can't believe some of the stuff I wrote!! :)

All Y'all!,

WOWzers! It has been a while journal! Well, nothing has really happened lately. I am keeping in touch with the election, and I am looking forward to Tuesday. However, the upcoming election is also making me quite nervous and a bit depressed, for if Kerry wins this election, I fear what will become of our country. But I have faith in America and I know they will let the best man win. (And when I say let the best man win, I mean President George W. Bush.)

So yes. We had the school election today, and I got a headache because there were so many Kerry supporters and alot of the black people were saying stuff like, "Bush is gonna get shot if he is re-elected." Or: "We need to take Bush to Iraq so he can be blown to bits." And all these people's remarks gave me major headaches (they were making me so mad), but I often wonder: "What can these liberals be thinking? How can you possibly vote for a man who thinks God made it where there would be some homosexual people. How can you vote for a man who supports MURDER,abortion. How can you possibly vote for a man whom the terrorist WANT to win? WHY? So we can have more attacks here in our country? We need a President who is kind. We need a President that shows the terrorist that we mean business. We need a president who has a straight, and not a messed up way of thinking! If the democrats truly loved their country, they would vote for President Bush! And that is why I like the "Democrats for Bush" Program."

Well, as you can see, my mind, at the moment, is mostly focused on this election. I know not many kids care about their country much at their age. But I am one of those 'early bloomers.' I love my country alot more than most my age!

B.D.N.

First Assistant

Today I was called to be the first assistant in the Priest quorum. I am definitely grateful for this oppurtunity, and I look forward to the responsibility and the duties that come along with the calling. I have never been a good leader, and this is a great oppurtunity for me. :)

Today was also my good friend Ronnie's farewell talk. It was very, very good I am proud of him and the person he has become the last few years. By the end of the year, we will have ten young men serving missions in our ward. I am grateful to be in a ward with a great, great group of young men. We are all examples to each other, and we are all very close. It's been awesome getting to know these guys the last four years.

In other news: I found my old Online Journal, and it's hilarious. I am gonna start posting some of the entries onto this blog because they are just too great! ;) (See: Post below this one!)

Memory Lane: March 5, 2005 AKA "Ah, It's Been A While"

My Long Lost Friend,

It's been a while, friend. When was the last time I really wrote? Election Day, I am guessing. Ah, November! The good ol' days! Alot has happened. Listen to my story.

Ah, enough of my past!! Life is GOOD, GOOD, GOOD! Brent Nelson is pretty much gonna marry the girl of my dream's sister, Shayla. I am excited. It should be good. In fact, at the moment, he is with her right now. Haha. He always is! Haha.

Today I went to Aaron McCoy's baptism. It was great! There, I met my good friend Chris Wright. Before I left, we talked about the most hilarious movie called Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure. HAHA! It was GREAT! We had many tears of laughter. Hahaha, in fact, I missed the movie so much, I had Dad order it for me. HAHA. I can't wait for it to arrive. I will have to show it to Chelsea and Shelby sometime. It is a great movie. Well, it's for babies, but it is hilarious! Well, to me it is anyways.

One more week until Spring Break! I can't wait. The new live album of Dave Matthews Band is coming out the week of Spring Break, and I am gonna get it. It looks pretty sweet. Speaking of school, I recently took the nine weeks exams. I will be getting my report card the week after Spring Break. I will be sure to send you the grades and what not.

Well, I am now off! have a good good time journal. Fare thee well!

Yours Truly,
B.D.N.

Seven Years Can Do A Lot...

You never actually realize how much things change over the years until you witness some of that changing by taking a trip down Memory Lane. Check it out!

Can't believe it's already been seven years!!

Me, Logan, and Luke in June 2002.

Me, Logan, and Luke today.

Brighton's Birthday Party!

Well, last night was Brighton's second birthday party, and it was a lot of fun. The cake was delicious and so was the bananna ice cream! We did some fun activities, and I especially enjoyed winning the monkey game with a world record time of 36 seconds. ;) Haha. I spent the second half of the birthday party playing with Baby Seth, and that was really fun. :) I also enjoyed seeing my friends Chelsea and Shelby again.

But best of all...it was fun to see Brighton get all excited when we sang him happy birthday. It's been fun watching Brighton grow up the last two years, and I love him a lot!!!

Brighton opening up gifts with Dad.

Look how excited he is!! :)

Brighton, Noah, and Naomi doing "No More Monkeys"

Haha.

Me and my pal Chelsea.

BYU-Idaho Acceptance Letter

The Weekend

The weekend has been pretty good thus far.

Dad and JoAnn went out of town up to Brianhead, Utah, and Luke went with them. Timmy decided that he would stay the night at the Brunners' house, and so that left only me and Logan at the house.

On Friday night, my good friend and cousin TAB came over to spend the night. He is down this weekend visiting and what not, and it was pretty grand. We made a trip to Buffalo Wild Wings and go some blazin' wings....Neither of us are really fans of the flavor, and it was pretty much a big waste of money, even though all six of them got eaten. ;) I prefer other flavors that taste much, much better. :)

Sunday was an excellent day, but it didn't start off so hot. Logan and I slept downstairs, and so I took the alarm clock down stairs with us, and I set it for 7:30 AM. However, I forgot to turn it ON, and so we woke up late for church, missing the sacrament portion of sacrament meeting. :( It was sad, but the rest of the church meeting was very good. I know I've said it before, but I could say it a million times more--Priest Quorum is the greatest!

After church, Logan and I came home and ate, did chores, and then took a nap while watching A Beautiful Mind. It was excellent! When I woke up, Logan and I came over here to the Brunners' house, where we have been ever since. I have been spending some time with TAB, and it has been excellent! :)

Brighton's Favorite Toy

Okay, these pictures were taken February of last year. Wow. I cannot believe it's already been a year!!

Anyways--I found these pictures of Brighton playing with one of our laundry baskets that was in my room, and I got a good laugh out of it. Enjoy!

The Battle

I found this picture on my computer. This is from 2002.

All I have to say is: WHITE DEER!

BTW, I pinned KT FTW!

A Five Year Change

My Desktop Today (January 12, 2009)

My Desktop Nearly Five Years Ago (July 11, 2004)

Today

Today was a really good day. It went by really fast, but it was great! I am not exactly sure WHY, but I have been a really good mood this last week; however, I think it might have something to do with the New Years Resolutions I have been working on. When you work toward your goals, and you get closer to acheiving those goals, I think it really puts you in a good mood. Anyways....

Before I go on about MY day, I just wanted to wish my little nephew Landon a happy fourth birthday!! I cannot believe Landon is already four-years-old. It feels just like yesterday when he was first born, and it really makes me realize how fast time can fly. I love my nieces and my nephews to death, and I hope Landon had a good birthday. I love you, Landon, and I miss you, too!!! :)

I had to wake up pretty early this morning. Okay, maybe it wasn't TOO early, but I had to wake up around eight because I had to go babysit the Brunsons' kids while they went to the Temple. I think it seemed really early because I didn't get much sleep this week. (But that's my fault, of course.) But yeah--it was really great to see the Brunson kids again. They were so excited to show me what they got for Christmas, and it was a lot of fun. Alyson (the youngest) is almost two-years-old, and it's been fun watching her grow up. I remember when I first started babysitting her, and she was kind of afraid of me. But the last couple of times I've babysat has been great because she actually laughs at me and plays with her toys with me. And today she gave me a hug before I left, and it was really cute. :)

I got home around 12:30, and I watched the BYU basketball game. At half-time, I had to go get Timmy from his friend's house; I got home and finished the game. And befor I knew it, it was time to meet at the church for baptisms. It was Logan's first time doing baptisms and it was really great watching him do it for the first time. He was really excited, and I realized how blessed I am to have little brothers who share that same love for the Gospel as I do.

My good friend Ronnie Olsen was endowed this morning, and he came to the baptisms for the dead session to help out. Wow. It was really awesome, because I never thought I would be getting confirmed and baptized for the dead via Ronnie because he is only about nine months older than me. It was really great to see, though, and it made me really excited to get to the point where Ronnie is at now. Ronnie is leaving to Canada on his mission in February, and he will make a great missionary!

After the temple...Logan, Wyatt, Brother Morgan, Buddy Williams, and I all went to FatBurger. Brother Morgan has a lot of sweet stories because he is a cop; and he told us a lot of the ones from when he used to work on that side of town. (He was at the scene when the two girls from Vegas got in that car wreck on Sahara those many years ago.) It was really fun! I am really grateful for leaders like Buddy Williams and Brother Morgan; they are two of the greatest leaders I have ever had, and they are great examples to me. Oh, and did I mention how good FatBurger is? I love that place. It was Logan's first time there, and he loved it! Haha.

And I just got home not too long ago. :) I am really tired....
I hope everyone has a good, safe weekend!!

Volleyball Resignation

After thinking about it the last couple of months, I have decided that I am not going to play volleyball during my senior year.

My main focus the first nine months of this year is to do what I can to prepare for my mission. And although volleyball is a great way to stay in shape for my mission, I have realized that I can also exercise on my own if I force myself not to be lazy. :)

January through May is usually the time my main focus is on volleyball, but as everyone knows--I have much more important things to focus on this year. I plan to spend the next few months:

A)Working (hopefully; I am on another job hunt!)
B)Spending time with friends and family
C) Misc. (AKA Working toward other New Years Resolutions of mine.)

And that's it, really. I am really excited to see what the next few months have in store for me. I want to thank my volleyball coaches and my volleyball team-mates for being a great support to me the last few years. I will miss you guys, and I will see y'all from the stands in March!

Haircut! + New Layout!

It's been a while since I've changed my blog layout, so I decided to do that today!

I also got a new haircut today, and you can see that in my new photo at the top of this page in the black and white photo. :)

Hope everyone has a great rest of this week!

Elder Christopher Brent Berry FTW.

For all of you who know Chris Berry, he got his mission call last week.

I am very proud of Chris. He is a great example to me, and he and I have been best friends since I stayed at his house during Summer 2006. It is very comforting to know that I have friends who are willing to give up two years of their life to serve the Lord. Chris is my first of many close friends (my age) to get their mission call, and I am very excited for him!

For everyone who wants to see it, Chris put a video of him opening his mission call on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2x0AnMjO7M

New Years Resolutions

I am sitting here writing some New Years Resolutions in my journal, and I just wanted to challenge everyone to do the same thing.

The last couple of years, I have made my resolutions, butI never really wrote them down. When we write them down in something like a journal, we are less likely to forget what our resolutions are.

It's a new year, and it's a good time to set some goals and to do what we can to become better! :)