Blessed

Hey Everyone,

So over the past week I have been under a slightly significant amount of stress, and my mind has been all over the place. A couple of times this week I thought about asking the kids that live across the street to stone me (studying organic chemistry and physics all week will do that to you). Last night I was laying in bed because I couldn't sleep,and I was started going through my text messages and Facebook messages over the past week. That's when it hit me. I am seriously the luckiest kid in the world. I have been blessed with thee best friends and family in the entire world. I will literally argue with anyone that disagrees. When I get extremely stressed I have a tendency to shut myself off from the rest of the world (so if I was a complete turd to any of you this week I apologize). Last night really smacked me in the face. This entire week people have been praying for me, and wishing me luck on my test, but I was so focused on how little time I had left to prepare that I completely missed out on how incredible it all actually was. I was so angry at myself for not taking time to appreciate the support of the people I care most about. I find it funny how I (and most likely we) tend to let   the little joys in life slip away un-noticed. Life is full of treasures that we fail to see.

I don't own anything that I consider to be valuable (other than my grandpa truck, I know you're all jealous), and that is fine because I feel that what I have is the most valuable thing any person could ever possess. I have great friends, and an amazing family. To me, that is all I will ever need. My dad has always told me that a person is lucky if they find one TRUE friend within their lifetime, and as I get older the more truth I find in that statement. However, I truly feel that I have to be the luckiest guy in the world. I have lots of friends that I know would do anything they could to help me out if I really needed it. It is an extremely humbling feeling to know that there are people out there that care for you as much as you care for them. As I look back on my life I have come to realize that without the friendships I've had I never would be in the place I am today. God has placed soooo many wonderful people in my life to help mold me into the man he wants me to be. I can count numerous times that I've messed up and just done some stupid stuff that there has been a friend or family member there waiting to let me know that I'm not alone (and I stinkin mess up all the time). It is so easy to take friendships fore granted, and truly miss out on the beauty of them.

I wish there was a way to fully express to all my friends and family how much they truly mean to me. I am not very good with words, and I know I don't show my appreciation enough. I am extremely grateful for the role all of my friends and family have played in my life throughout the years. I will never be able to express to you all how much you all mean to me, and I owe you all a huge debt of gratitude.

Okay this grizzly bear has been far to touchy feely for one night, and now I am going to go do some manly things like burn down Pella, or plot Justin Beiber's assassination. AKA sleep :)