2012…

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bike, Broadway, Christmas, College, Dance, Dog, Family, Florence, Friends, Germany, Graduation, Kieve, Krakow, Lion King, Paris, Philadelphia Broadway, Prague, Rome, Russia, St. Petersburg, Teach For America, Travel, UPENN, Venice, Vienna

So it’s been a while since my last post… just over a year to be exact. It’s amazing to me how much life can happen in just one year. I’ve been meaning to get back to blogging for quite some time, but it always seems to get put on the back burner. I guess I didn’t want to start any new posts because I felt like I had missed so many previous. It just didn’t feel right to start telling new stories when there were stories from the past still screaming to be shared. I’ve had some time over the Christmas break to do some life sorting and I’ve put together a “life since the last post” presentation. This is my tiny attempt to give peace to the tales I missed. So without further adieu, here is what Thoughts of Shawn missed in 2012…

Lion king at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas with the Madre

A wicked awesome dance party

Some bad hair days

I almost bought a dog! Someday… Finnish Spitz

Time spent with the Padres

Class projects

Greg Laswell in concert

Twice!

Mountain biking with the cousin-in-law

I graduated from college!

Play time

Some fun dates

Random memories

I flew to Europe with Hayden… for 5 1/2 weeks!

Germany

Family visit with the nieces and nephews. Aren’t they cute? (Katelyn, Tanner, Trevor, and Brianna) Thanks for everything Paul and Janae!

A day on the Rhein River

Castles!

Paris

Sneaking into an abandoned castle in southern France

Rome

Florence/Pisa

Venice

Vienna

Prague

Poland/Auschwitz

Ukraine

Back to the mission Sashleek! (Russian bbq)

I’m on a boat!

Reuniting with my Russian family

Love in Petersburg

Rooftop sunset at 12 am

Sites of Petersburg

Russia… country of opportunity

And all the friends that we met along the way…

A week after returning from Europe, I packed up my car and drove from Utah to Philly

Stopped by my mom’s hometown in Colorado

Reunited with friends and family on the way

Gettysburg

Church history sites

Relived the birth of our nation at Independence Hall in the room where the constitution was signed.

George Washington’s house

Moved to Philly at last and found it to have everything I need. Still waiting on the girl, love, and dog BUT…

I got the bike!

I started a new job with Teach For America (TFA) and survived summer institute. My first teaching experience.

And I made lots of friends along the way

I started a graduate program at the University of Pennsylvania in urban education. Never thought I’d end up at an ivy league school.

Went to my first Real Salt Lake soccer game (in Philly)

I survived a hurricane and helped clean up afterwards

In 2012, I completed a journey from sea to shining sea. I started in San Diego in January and ended on Staten island in November. My lovely red Nissan was there with me for every second of the trip.

Mit Romney’s election night party

I made it home to Utah for thanksgiving to play canasta with my grandma

I made a lot of new friends and had a lot of fun.

To wrap it all up, I got to spend the holidays with the parentals and my brother’s cute little family in North Carolina. Thanks Keith and Katie!

Christmas hiking and bird watching with the fam

What a great little nephew… Charlie!

Wow, what a year! This was definitely a year for the memories… but next year will be too! Thanks to my wonderful family and to all of the amazing people in my life! I’ve met some incredible people over the last year and built some lasting friendships. None of my adventures would have meant anything if it were not for the people creating the memories with me.

I believe that every day there is something that happens that is worth telling a story about. My new year’s resolution… tell the stories more often. Blog!

My motto: Life is meant to be lived… so live it!

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Justin shout out…

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Brother, Christ, Comfort, control, craziness, easy, Engaged, evil, Family, forgiveness, freedom, Friends, Girl of my dreams, God, Grateful, happy, heal, Heart, Justin, Life, Lord, love, Married, mission, Parents, Peace, positive attitude, Power, Prince of Peace, roommate, rough time, wisdom

Doesn’t he look happy? Everyone, I’d like you to meet my roommate Justin. Not too long ago Justin wrote a very insightful blog post that I would like to re-post here to my blog. But before posting his thoughts I would just like to say that Justin has become one of my best friends. Although he is still a young buck, behind that huge smile lies some wisdom. I’m always impressed with his ability to listen and to ask the right questions to create understanding. Although he has been going through a rough time, he has handled his situation extremely well. Although what he writes is just words, they really reflect the type of person he really is. Love ya brother! Read directly from his blog here or just keep reading below:

“What I thought I knew and what I’ve learned”

“It is hard to believe it, but one month ago I was engaged to be married to the girl of my dreams. I’ve decided I can’t dwell on what might have been, that would make this an exceptionally boring blog post! Rather I’d like to share what I feel like I have learned through all of this craziness and I hope that some of it will help the nine people who will actually read this. Ready? ok let’s go….”

“First of all, I have learned that I cannot always control whether or not the situation I am in is what will bring me the greatest measure of peace, but that it is not the situation I am in that will ultimately bring peace, but the way I choose to react to it. This is the first of many things I have always intellectually known, but that I have never had to apply in my life until very recently. It is amazing to me the power the Lord gives each of us to decide to have a positive attitude and to learn in every situation in which we are placed; it is not always easy, but it is always the path that will lead to the greatest good. I keep remembering what a Sister in my mission once said, she encouraged a congregation of people to “follow the peace.” I have come to learn that that does not mean I can always be in a peaceful situation, but that in every situation I have the opportunity to follow the Prince of Peace who I worship with all my heart.”

“The next important thing I thought I always knew and now have discovered I really do is that I have amazing friends. God has put some the best people in the world into my life and they will never understand the incredible, salvific influence they have had on my life. In this category I include my current roommates, my dear friends from the mission who have always inspired me to be the very best, my dear pre-mission friends from high school who have allowed me to grow with them, and of course the best family a person could ever have. In particular in this crazy circumstance I have gained an appreciation for my dear parents who have supported me in all of my dreams and pursuits and who continue to trust me to learn from all that I have been given. Chances are if you took the time to read this you are one of those people, so thank you!”

“The final and most important lesson I have learned from all of this is the incredible power forgiveness has to heal and lift. I have been painted as vile and evil (I also have fallen in love with palindromes) by people who meant a lot to me and it has been difficult for me to let that go, but as I have, I have found such a tremendous feeling of comfort and empowerment to move forward with faith in the love of Christ. I have preached the doctrine of forgiveness on countless occasion, and I’ve always wondered why I have been so drawn to that principle until this month when I have finally had a need to really apply it in my everyday living. I’m so glad that I have spent time studying opposition and forgiveness, without it I don’t know where I would be. The freedom and release that comes is real, I have experienced it and for that I will always be grateful!”

“Sorry this wasn’t very funny and I don’t blame anyone for not reading the whole thing, but it feels so good to write it all down.”

-Faithfully-

A hint of random…

Tags

Acapella, Family, Father, Friend, God, Gospel, Jenny, Jesus Christ, Marriage, Miracles, Random, Relief, Shel Silverstein

-Sometimes we just need a new perspective on ourselves. Learn how to see ourselves and others as God sees us.

-There is something soothing about grabbing a yogurt and a small spoon, walking out your door, and going for a walk on a blustery day. Tut tut, looks like rain!

-Sometimes you know that God is watching out for you. I had an overall good day if looking at the events that happened. Although by the time I called it a night and walked out of the library my thoughts had me emotionally feeling pretty low. In the distance I heard a faint yet soothing sound of singing. Guitars? Drums? Nah, Acapella! I don’t know who they were or why they were singing outside at 10:30 PM but they made me smile. Dynamite by Tao Cruz never sounded so good. Thanks random Acapella group! It sounded something like this except with a female in the mix and not just one guy:

-Why is the internet still not working!!??

-There comes a time in life when you just need a friend. Someone you can call at any time even when you really have nothing to say. Someone to just sit beside you to do homework with, someone to workout with, someone to just be a friend. Thanks Jenny! Cheers to you!

-The best mental relief often lies in a good physical work out. Thanks P90X!

-So I’m in this preparation for marriage class at BYU by Jason Carroll and it’s AMAZING! I really love his focus on what’s most important. I appreciate his teaching style and the way that he engages his students. Most of all I appreciate how he has, so early in the semester, inspired me to be more Christlike and BECOME more of a disciple of Christ. Some thoughts that I loved from the readings (the bolded ones are my favorites):

The Challenge to Become by Elder Oaks
– “In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the Gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.”

– “Final judgement is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts, what we have done. It is an aknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts – what we have become.

– “Now is the time for each of us to work toward our personal conversion, toward becoming what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. As we do so, we should remember that our family relationships – even more than our Church callings – are the setting in which the most important part of that development can occur. The conversion we must achieve requires us to be a good husband and father or a good wife and mother. Being a successful Church leader is not enough. Exaltation is an eternal family experience, and it is our mortal family experiences that are best suited to prepare us for it.”

– “Our needed conversions are often achieved more readily by suffering and adversity than by comfort and tranquility.”

“Except the Lord Build the House…” By Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
– “To those of you who, with glad hearts, dream of marriage and establishment of a home, I wish to repeat what was said of old: “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” (Ps. 127:1)

– “True love is not so much a matter of romance as it is a matter of anxious concern for the well being of one’s companion.”

– “The voice of heaven is a still small voice; likewise, the voice of domestic peace is a quiet voice.”

Here’s a shout out to my dad! He is a perfect example of the following quote. I want to be like him.
– “A father can do no greater thing for his children than to let them feel that he loves their mother.”

More thoughts from this class to come….

-Shout out to Shel! A poem that I think applies to all of us…

Do we throw away good things because of trivial matters? If we focus on what is most important, the little problems should fall away, right? I hope I’m not throwing away the best thing. (Elder Oaks talk “Good, better or best has some great insight on this)

-Protein shake and blogging…. love it!

No words…

Tags

Family, Friends, Jenny, Julia, Mack, Snowbird, Swimming, Words

Some things just don’t require words…

(Photo taken and provided by Jenny)