Jakeica

Jess' hair color

2010-06-28T11:28:00.001-06:00

So, every few month Jess gets this urge to dye her hair. This time around, she has been asked about what color to do. She's gone black, dark brown with red underneith, Orangey-red with highlights and even attempted blond. I was just wondering if you all had any input. This is what I want suggested:

Paramore girl hair! I just think Jess would look hot with ridiculously red hair. What do you all think? Post links to pictures, please, I'm a visual person, and really color is a visual sort of thing.

Jake

I like this.

2010-06-02T19:07:00.002-06:00

http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2008/05/09/gandhis-top-10-fundamentals-for-changing-the-world/

Good ol' Gandhi.

Jake

I love my wife.

2010-04-28T10:27:00.001-06:00

Just FYI.

Jake

The Book of Mormon

2010-04-19T09:30:00.000-06:00

I wish words could do a better job at describing a feeling. Much like a taste or a sound, feeling is arbitrary and after the volumes that have been written about experiencing God through the Holy Ghost, it is safe to say that one must come in contact with that feeling personally in order to full grasp the complexly simply peace that comes from our Heavenly Father.

When it is said that the Lord works in his own way and his own time, this means to me that His hand can often be a surprise when it touches our hearts or lives. Some of the most spiritual experiences have come right out of the blue and answered questions that I did not really know that I had or was going to encounter. A lot of these experiences are things that I do not feel right sharing but the common theme among the most memorable is my surprise when a feeling comes, a thought is entertained and I know that it did not come from anywhere else but God simply because there was no other way that this very specific feeling would have came to me at a particular moment. This surprise of mine could be viewed as something of being unprepared, for faith in God should erase this the surprise when He interacts with us, but I believe that sudden contrast in my mood and sentiments creates a proof of sorts. It is true that I feel the spirit at church and other expected times but the real testament to me has been when the Lord has seen it fit to teach me something in a powerfully impressing manner at a time when I had both needed it but yet was taken back by the moment.

D&C 88:66 likens the Lord to a voice of one crying in the wilderness. "In the wilderness, because you cannot see him- my voice because my voice is Spirit, my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end". I hear this verse quoted often in that we cannot see out maker but a key piece of information is sometimes overlooked. When we feel the spirit, according to this scripture, we are feeling the voice of the Lord. He is speaking to us. How much more sacred our moment of spiritual peace become when we think of the personal nature that it is to feel the spirit. It is direct communication from our Father.

Recently I have had the surprising experience to have the voice of the Lord testify to me that the Book of Mormon was actually translated from the plates of gold given to the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is a true record of a group of people living here on this continent to whom Jesus Christ ministered after His death and resurrection. It is the record of the "other sheep, which are not of this fold" who truly heard Jesus speak and His lips profess what must be done to achieve salvation. I sat down on the couch this morning with a bowel of cereal, picked up my Book of Mormon from the floor, flipped it open and read the end of verse 61 in Alma 5, "come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life". As I did so, I felt a voice say to me that this is true and that Joseph got this book from exactly the means which he claimed. It was real, distinct, and all be it unexpected, welcomed and life changing. The Book of Mormon is true my friends, the Lord loves us and watches over us in our hour of need, even if that hour is surprising when it arrives.

Moving!

2010-03-29T10:25:00.000-06:00

Not us. Just Jake's spilling of his guts.
http://theintergalacticrepublic.blogspot.com/

This blog will be about Jake and Jess. So we'll get on that. Asap. For posterity. And aliens who secretly read our internets.

Jake

Bull

2010-02-09T22:46:00.004-07:00

I am someone who likes to know what’s going on.

Accordingly, I make it a priority to catch the headlines from the day, be it on the radio, web or television. Well, with the start of our state legislative session taking a lot of the local news time and bandwidth, I have found myself consistently infuriated with how my tax money is being spent.

Doing away with 12th grade? Loosening the child car seat regulations? Passing a resolution to convey their personal opinions about global warming? Please someone tell me what is going on and how any of this could be viewed as more than just a big waste of time and budget in an already fiscally difficult year. I do not understand how this is echoing the needs of the state.

We need job growth, not the murdering of an already under-paid education system (yes, Utah spends less per child than any other state in the Union). We need our health care system fixed because it is broken, even Jason Chaffetz said it is a “complicated” situation and admitted it needs help. And as a Latter Day Saint who has been counseled from a very basic doctrine to honor legitimate powers that be, we want resolutions that do more than just defy what President Obama is trying to do. I am in Obama’s camp but still, I’ve grown up hearing stories of Mormons in WWII fighting the German cause because that’s the land they called home. Well, Obama is not Hitler but even if he was, by that logic it wouldn’t matter, we are to support and respect our leaders. Using your voice to make a difference is American but to waste state resources to simply kick against the pricks and further your political ambition is bull. Disagree with Obama all you want but please stop pushing through fluff on the tax payer’s tab that will be ruled invalid in court anyway.

After figuring my taxes for '09, I have to pay $421 to the beautiful state of Utah but that check is becoming harder and harder to sign the more I hear about what our elected officials are doing. It is getting to the point where the only way I would feel good about my taxes is if they were going towards buying a muzzle for Chris Butters and hanging a 3 foot sign around his neck that reads “I don’t represent the LDS church”.

Wake up to what's really going on, legislature.

Jake

Jake and his camera...

2010-02-03T22:04:00.001-07:00

I bought Jake a video camera for Christmas, which has turned into me helping him make silly movies, like the one below. I thought you might like it.

Running update.

2010-02-03T13:28:00.002-07:00

So, the running has been going better than my blogging, which is good. I've been doing around a mile and a half just on the track behind my house. I'm amazed at how happy it makes me feel. Man, go jog a mile or so and read your scriptures in the morning if you have to have a guaranteed good day.

I'm also gonna do the Wasatch Back this summer! It's this huge relay race that lasts like 24 hours, teams are made up of like 15 people and each person runs 3 or so legs. Should be fun.

Anyway, just letting you know that I'm not dropping the ball... yet. ha.

Jake

Taking my own advice.

2010-01-28T08:14:00.003-07:00

The other day, I was talking to my 16 years old sister after school and she mentioned that she would like to go out for a sport. I immediately dropped the idea of running and told told her that I feel as though nothing has changed me more in my life (aside from maybe my mission) than the 4 years I spent running and training year round. Well, she said she wants to swim... which is great, swimming is hard and I'm sure she's up to it, but it just got me thinking about what I had told her. Ofttimes, verbalization is pretty important to realizing just what one believes (maybe that's why we are counseled to share our testimonies?).

Anyway, despite the craziness of my life at the moment, I have decided to again lace up those shoes everyday and start racking up the mileage. It's not going to be easy. I don't have the life changing coach I had before (Ed Murrell), I don't have team mates to poke and prod me when my will starts to give out, and at the moment I really don't have anything to shoot for besides a sense of accomplishment. Maybe I can find some goals, I think that would help.

Well, in order to give some sort of accountability, I have decided to account to you, the internet. Well, more specifically, who ever reads Jess and I's blog. I will be posting something after every run, be it a lot of a little, if for no other reason than to have a little bit more incentive and push until I get back into shape. So...

Day one
Ran mile and a half on Olympus High's track. It was cold. Albuteral kept the wheezing away.

Jake

Conan

2010-01-22T23:48:00.003-07:00

Thinking back upon the last ten years or so, Conan O'Brien has been a part of my thinking and laughter. He was always on when I came home from hanging out and worth suffering through the half hour of "Mad About You" that preempted him for years on Utah's NBC affiliate. He was a writer on a show I watched almost daily growing up, the Simpsons, along with with another fave, Saturday Night Live. If I was to very pick someone to represent me in the late night world, Conan would be that person.

I like making people laugh, it's almost a gut reaction to most of life's situations. Likewise, I am grateful to Conan for the laughter he has given to me. In case you didn't watch his last episode of the Tonight Show, here are his parting words:

I can never thank you enough for your kindness to me and I’ll think about it for the rest of my life. All I ask of you is one thing: please don’t be cynical. I hate cynicism — it’s my least favorite quality and it doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.

Thanks Coco.

-Jake

Dear Abbey

2010-01-06T23:40:00.006-07:00

Hey everyone.

In case you didn't know, my band just finished our new EP Dear Abbey. I thought I'd share it with you. Let me know what you think!

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://thesweaterfriends.bandcamp.com/album/dear-abbey"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Dear Abbey by The Sweater Friends&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Jake

PS- Jess is the reason track number 3 "This Time" is on there. It was one of the first song I ever wrote. I just realized today that I would have been in 9th grade when I wrote it and that was 10 years ago. Wow.

Music Video

2009-12-31T16:38:00.001-07:00

I made this for a class last semester. My teacher loved it, I thought you all might like it too.

Christmas Was Good

2009-12-25T23:34:00.003-07:00

Well, Christmas is technically over in like 25 minutes but it's okay, both Jess and I have had a very nice holiday this year. The most memorable part was watching my niece Hailey open up a box containing a bottle of ketchup and some salsa. She said that's what she wanted for Christmas (I'm not sure if she was joking at the time or not) and so her parents complied. I wish I could accurate describe the joy that was on her face and in her voice as she her little arms wrapped around the Christmas condiments but I can honestly say that words just can't do the moment justice.

Thank you to everyone for their generosity, kindness and time. We just couldn't be more blessed.

Merry Christmas!

Love- Jake

Holiday Cover: Away in a Manger

2009-12-20T16:58:00.003-07:00

So I'm doing a cover a day the holiday break and Jess helped me out with one of the songs. We actually did this in primary today for sharing time. Jess was great.

To see them rest of the covers go to http://www.youtube.com/TheSweaterFriends.

Hey.

2009-11-22T13:37:00.003-07:00

Church was good today. Our boys were pretty funny to teach, as usual. The primary presidency brought up how we will be changing classes here soon and it made me sad... but that's okay.

Anyway, I decided to give a like real update about what's going on with Jess and I. We are doing well and looking forward to not having school for a month or so. Jess has been getting awesome grades and is such a good student. It's really cool to see how much she cares about learning and getting the most out of a class. She is defiantly one of those people who go to school for self betterment and not just a piece of paper.

As for me, things are about the same, just tons of home work and Sweater Friends. Our new EP is really almost done (entitled Dear Abbey). I will post where you can hear it soon. I'm actually using one of the songs as a creative project for a class so get ready for a music video about Saurssure!

Anyway, here is some Star Wars stuff. love-Jake

Health Care Reform part 2

2009-11-02T23:44:00.007-07:00

The following is not meant to offend and is best read with an open mind. I have just found myself consumed by frustration today. These points are at the core of my thoughts:

1- Health care reform, with the inclusion of a public option, will not make people lazy. In fact, the hardest working people I know are the ones most in need of a path to medical coverage. Construction workers, small business owners and employees, single mothers left to support an entire house hold, these are the people who need help. I did not say a handout but simply the chance to buy into something, because right now they don't even have that. In the Declaration of Independence, our "unalienable rights" include "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". A public option, along with other measures, would improve American lives as a whole, give the liberty to choose an option without being denied (at lower overall rates) and make happiness a more attainable pursuit.

2- One day, we will all need to use the system. You never realize how close something is until it hits you on the head. Unless money has never been and will never be an issue in your life, you will at one point or another need our country's health care network. How lucky we are to live in a place where medical advancements are being made at an ever increasing rate but what good is a fancy pen if the ink is too expensive to buy? Whether it is having a baby while in college, becoming injured in an accident or simply breathing some unseen health hazard, we all need the system to be there and thus be derailed from the broken path towards self destruction that it is currently on.

3- God is not a respecter of persons. He does not care if you are black, white, orange, poor, educated, whatever, He loves you. This life is a state of probation, a test of the extent to which we will love our Maker and ultimately, how we will love our neighbor, for when we are in their service, we are only in His. When a man lay dying on the road to Jericho, the Samaritan did the truely Christian act and gave of what he had to nurse the stranger back to health. In our day there are thousands of people along the paths of our health care system who have been shunned or pushed aside for belonging to a certain "demographic", risk group or tax bracket.

It is absolutely vital that those in need have the ability to access the care that is available in our country. Being "covered" should not be the decisive string holding our lives together. I am not saying it should be free, for work is essential to a good life but when someone you love is laying on that hospital bed, life is what becomes important.

At any cost.

Jake

Halloween II (more pictures)

2009-11-01T16:17:00.006-07:00

Jess and I made these.

I must have a big head because this was a pretty big pumpkin.

Sam and Johnny (a tree and a hugger)

Brielle

Halloween

2009-11-01T16:11:00.006-07:00

Jess and I had a pretty good Halloween together, here are some of the pictures we took.

Alice and Max

Kayla and Hailey

Jess as Minnie Mouse

Lance

Halloween tree I made for Jess.

Just in case you've missed it...

2009-10-20T23:16:00.001-06:00

here is my band's latest music video for The Last Pirate Song.

2009-10-06T01:00:00.003-06:00

Yeah it is mid terms and I am still awake at 1 am with stuff to do.

Meh.

I just wanted to say that conference was better than Thanksgiving dinner.
I feel full. Can you relate?

Jake

My Left Handed Mother

2009-10-01T14:38:00.003-06:00

I thought I would give a bit of insight as to why I consider myself to be Liberal and how this came about. I know it is not the norm for Utah to produce someone who leans to the left but I feel as though my views are rooted in those same places that make this state so red on the electoral college map.

I was talking to my mom a few days ago and she said "I don't want the government to take care of me, I just want them to take care of those who need it." As someone who has grown up reading and hearing the words of our Savior, compassion and empathy are fundamental in the teachings of Christ. We are to love God and love our neighbors, that is really about it. Sure, there are other things we are taught and commanded to do but they all revolve around helping us comply with those first two great commandments.

Before I became a self proclaimed liberal, I would look at the world and say to myself "that's not right" or "I think this should happen." Is clean water and food only essential for people who can afford it? If we are to respect our God, does that not mean we should care about his Earth that he entrusted us with? Should the advancements made in medical care only be for those with a big enough pocket book? As I answered these questions according to what I had discovered to be true, I found that the left made sense. Though, I do not agree with everything that is associated with being Liberal (i.e. the morality of abortion), that is not where the deciding factor lies. I am a liberal because life is too short to go at it alone. We are to love and help each other and just like my mom said, take care of those who need it.

-Jake

Picture Update.

2009-09-20T00:44:00.007-06:00

Here are some photos from the last few months...

Number one dollar bill.

2009-09-06T15:24:00.003-06:00

Today in sharing time we were talking about prophets. Our primary president assigned each class an old testament prophet to talk about for a minute of so. We received Adam, as in Adam and Eve. We formed a huddle of sorts with our boys and asked them if they knew who Adam was. They said yes, after which Jess proceeded to tell them Adam's story and importance. She said something about Adam being the first prophet that the Lord set up His church through. Jonah in our class turned to us and said "oh yeah, his head is on the number one dollar bill, I know about him."

We laughed.

Jake

Health Care Reform

2009-09-01T20:26:00.004-06:00

So I was taking a little break from studying last night and came across a video blog featuring our Vice President Joe Biden on the Organizing for America site (you can find it here). In this short clip, Biden asks what health care reform is to you and posts a quiz that makes the whole process even more personal. Also, he invites us as Americans to post a video response to the clip on youtube. Jess and I, feeling strongly about the matter, accepted his invitation and did just that. Here is what we posted:

Jake

2009-08-27T22:48:00.003-06:00

I would post a blog but fitting a random trip to Disneyland, the first week at a new school and a terminal diagnosis for my car into one post does not sound too fun at the moment.

I got iWork '09 though. We'll leave it at that.

Jake

Model T-Shirt

2009-08-04T00:46:00.005-06:00

I've been making homemade shirts for my band and got Jessica to model one for me. I think they turned out pretty good...

If anyone would be interested in getting one we are selling them at a starter price of $5 each. You can read my blog post here about it.

Jake

He's in the forest, sleeping.

2009-08-02T13:46:00.003-06:00

Thanks to our alarm never going off (even though we set it right before we turned in), we were late to church but still managed to make it to all of primary. We only had Tate and Gavin Cash today, which was a nice break from the 14 kids last week.

As soon as I sat down in our class area, Tate (who does everything in his power to be the first one there every week) pulls out a few colored pieces of paper cut in to quarter size. He asked me if I wanted to read his book and handed me the papers. He had drawn several pictures on the pages with swirly lines and stick figures. As I flipped the pages I asked "what is your book about?" to which he responded "it's about bad." Further questions only led to more confusion but I must say, it was the best book about bad I have ever read.

After we separated for class and were sitting with them around the table in our room, Jess asked were everyone else was. Gavin piped in saying, "I know what happened to Gavin Little." Jess and I looked at each other both thinking that usually a sentence like that is referring to something negative. Gavin continued "he's in the forest, sleeping". Jess asked if he was talking about camping, which he was, and we both breathed a sigh of relief.

Jake

It's a boy...

2009-08-02T13:37:00.001-06:00

tomato.

Hippies on The Mount of Olives.

2009-07-26T22:30:00.004-06:00

We had a ridiculous day in Primary today. Yesterday we got a call from the teachers of the Girl CTR 5 class wanting us to teach their kids today too. We said yes thinking it wouldn't be too bad. Well, all our boys came, along with all their girls and two visitors. Yeah, 14 total! It was a mad house, I got hit in the crotch three times, one of which was with a belt. Wha wha. Thank goodness for my angel of a wife or else someone would have died and I'm not thinking about the kids.

Today's story comes from sharing time. The lady who was teaching held up a photo of Jesus teaching the Sermon on the Mount. This one to be precise: Anyway, so the lady asks the kids who the picture is of and they all said "Jesus", which she followed by "and who is he teaching?". David in our class, who I didn't even know was paying attention, yells out "Hippies!". Yeah it was great. I guess we all need the gospel, even hippies, right?

Jake and Jess

Sharing our time.

2009-07-19T12:25:00.004-06:00

Today was our turn to do sharing time in Primary and I will just say that it is good that it only comes around once a year. As I have mentioned before, our boys are quite the handful. Not to say we don't love them and enjoy being their teachers but it is hard to keep a room of kids quiet when the ones in front helping you are being the most rambunctious.

We taught about missions and missionaries, which did go over well. We had 2 boys and 2 girls dress up from different parts of the world and then the rest of the children guess where they are from. For a few weeks now when the boys were bad, Jess would threaten them with having them wear the girl's outfits. Anyway, when Jess started to hint "This is a country in Europe and you eat it for Thanksgiving", they shouted out "hot tamales" and "pancakes". I want to go to their Thanksgivings. They also guessed "Montana" for "It starts with M and is in Asia". Cute kids.

We ended it with having them color little missionary badges we made and telling them what missionaries do. Despite the chaos, it went pretty well. Sometimes riding out the chaos is the only way to manage it.

Jess and Jake.

A Not-So-Octupus' Garden.

2009-07-15T21:44:00.016-06:00

Jess and I have been growing a garden this year and it has been coming along quite nicely, as you can see by the bouquet of radishes. Too bad Jess says they taste like "salty dirt" (like that would even be a bad thing).

Our tomato plants are huge! We have 23 of them, celebrating my 23 years of life here on planet earth. We are excited to eat nothing but tomatoes here in a few weeks but in case we get sick of them, we are more than happy to share. Just holla if you want some. We also have squash, peppers, beets, carrots, corn and some melons growing. Anyway, here is a photo tour around our garden. Enjoy :)

Big thanks to everyone that has helped so far. No garden is an island, or something like that.

Jake.

Oh boys.

2009-07-12T13:20:00.004-06:00

So for a while now, Jess and I have talked about blogging our stories of teaching Primary. We have had so many funny and touching experiences taking care of Jonah, Hunter, David, Tate, and the two Gavins. We are not going to attempt to back track (though I wish we would have started this a while ago) but simply relate a few things we take home with us each Sunday.

Jess- Our class is in charge of Sharing Time next week, so we're going to talk about missionaries. We're going to have our boys dress up as children from around the world, but we also have girl costumes so I kept threatening them with that. They were good so they won't have to dress up as girls next week.

Jake- Well going along with the Sharing Time, when I asked the boys what they wanted to teach about, Tate yelled out "we could teach jump on Brother Workman" and proceeded to do just that along with two other boys. Now, these boys are all five or almost five so they can be quite the handful sometimes but I really enjoy how they feel comfortable around us. Every week during opening exercises they have the need to tell us "I'm getting a dirt bike not tomorrow but the next day", or "I know how to erase my brother's saved games on the Wii whenever I want". We, of course, do our best to direct their attention to what is going on and try to keep them reverent, but I like that they want us to know what is important to them.

Jess and Jake

Photoshopped.

2009-07-09T23:38:00.004-06:00

As an assignment for one of my classes this summer, I had to read and respond to Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare (which you can find here). I created my own version of the poem in a bit more modern terms. I thought I would share the finished product with you.

My lover has skin,
though void of a brown glow
Her legs aren't found at Gold's Gym
or in a Beyonce video
Her feet can clear the room
after her office job and high heels
and she's more likely to think of fruit
if you were to mention "appeal"
I don't think I would find her,
air brushed and bare,
in line at the grocery store
published in swim wear
Now if you think these are problems
then here's where you should stop
because love is with a person
and dream girls aren't made in Photoshop.

I wrote my poem based on an interesting video Dove put out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFPGa0pKyTg) which shows how the "flaws" are taken out of the media images we are fed. A completely unattainable sense of beauty has been created, causing so many problems in our world. Coming from a family with 3 little sisters, it really makes me sad.

Love, therein, is the answer.

Jake.

Jessica-Vision.

2009-07-06T22:15:00.004-06:00

64 hula hooping Jessica's.
Yes.

The 4th.

2009-07-05T17:04:00.004-06:00

The wise words of a three year old from our Fourth of July dinner.

Weenie Wife

2009-07-05T17:01:00.003-06:00

Last night I was awakened to the sound of Jake calling me a weenie in his sleep. He was leaning over me and I said, "What?" He proceeded to call me a weenie again. I asked him, "Why'd you call me a weenie?" He just mumbled something and fell back asleep. I guess now we all know how he really feels.

Jellystone 2

2009-07-05T00:52:00.005-06:00

Well, I was telling Jess tonight how I really enjoy the things we have done and preserved on our blog so I have decided to give you the low down on our Yellowstone trip before it's too late.

We went up with my family, both my sister's fiances, and two of my mom's sisters with their families. It was really fun having so many people up there with us. We stayed two nights in the Old Faithful Inn, which was great. It's like this huge-log-cabin-hotel-place that is over a hundred years old. Our third and final night was in Roosevelt, where Teddy Roosevelt stayed while on trip to the park. We had several cabins that we all stayed in and it was pretty fun, complete with wood burning stoves to keep you warm.

I think Jess had a good time, minus the dirt and bugs and cold and the random rotten egg smell. I know she likes the confidence that comes with completely prepping herself for the day so it was nice to have showers and such instead of a full on tent adventure (which is happening in Southern Utah come August). She's just great and full of more natural beauty than she lets on.

Anyway, for the most part we just hiked around and picnicked. We saw tons on animals, including some black bear cubs and a wolf, and enjoyed the green scenery spring run off leaves behind. We did get a flat but it was easily fixed while we walked around the Old Faithful Geyser Basin. It was just nice getting away, the minute we got into the pine trees, daily life seemed so far away.

Jake

Two is better than one.

2009-07-02T22:37:00.004-06:00

So I played a show tonight at an interesting place called The Boing! Collective. It is an anarchist group living in a house together who often host shows for free. They were very nice. Anyway, during the duration of the evening, I had it reaffirmed again and again tonight that I am so much better with Jess than without her. Even sitting on a hard wood floor, sweaty from just having played for 25 minutes, and listening to a dude with a mustache and a nylon string guitar, is enhanced by doing it next to Jess.

I could not quite put my finger on this "two is better than one" thought until after the show. I had been feeling the emotions that went along with it but the idea was not articulated until we were eating a late dinner at Cafe Rio. We shared a drink, as usual, and Jess happened to spill the whole thing right after I had just refilled the cup. Now, spilling sucks, it is never fun to have sticky pants and sprite in your salad but if I would have been alone, the amount of sucking would have increase exponentially. Having someone to worry about more than yourself is essential for being happy. I told Jess not to worry, that it was about time for a spill and this means that it wouldn't happen again for a while. Reassuring someone that everything will be alright is equally as therapeutic as hearing it yourself, if not more. When I am aspiring to keep "everything ok" for Jess, and anyone around me really, it is much easier to see my own life and challenges with a positive spin.

Thanks Jess.

Jake.

Note to Jess- I know that evenings like these aren't too "normal" for newly weds in our situation but I am so grateful to you for letting me have this musical part of life.

Photos from Jellystone.

2009-06-30T10:50:00.009-06:00

Here's a couple of pictures from our road trip to Yellowstone N.P. and Grand Teton N.P.

Jake made a little SweaterCast about the trip as well at the SweaterBlog.

We had a good trip and will post about it soon.

Iranian Elections. (repost)

2009-06-17T22:23:00.000-06:00

So, the past few nights I have stayed up into the early hours of the morning reading the Internet protest and update from what's going on in Iran. Their election was stolen from them and they have decided to take it back. I've been surprised at how attached I have become to a few people on the other side of the world relaying 140 character messages at a time. Real time updates from a real life lie effecting millions of people.

There have been students killed, students my age, taking similar classes, thinking similar thoughts, reading similar things, with the same wants and likes as myself. Though twitter is simply a collection of short statements, these people have made it so personal. Whether or not someone can place themselves entirely in another person's shoes is debatable but I have felt their fear, their hope and their outrage to a larger degree than I could have thru other media sources.

There have been many links shared by the Iranian twitters as well. Photos, videos and blogs have been accessible to the world that otherwise would have been very hard to find. This Boston Globe story has some very powerful pictures of the movement thus far:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/06/irans_disputed_election.html

The giant conversation that is twitter has opened allowed world into the lives of the Iranian people. It is different than reading an article or a book or watching the evening news because it is happening now. Tweets are posted instantly, so we are connected to the "right-now" on the other side of the world. Twitter has made Iran feel like my next door neighbor. It has made me involved, at the least on an emotional level.

Just search #iranelection on twitter and see what is being said.

I send my best wishes and prayers to those fighting to be heard. You have friends around the globe now and we are watching.

with love,
Jake

The Happiest Place on Earth

2009-05-12T22:30:00.006-06:00

I recently went to Disneyland with my parents and Brittani. It was a really impromptu trip. Britt decided she's going on a mission and Shannon & Taylor had already planned a trip to Disneyland, so we decided to meet them there. We didn't tell Kayla & Hailey though. We wanted it to be a surprise. Jake didn't go. He was playing a show. I was sad to miss it.

We're waiting in line to ride Gadget's Go Coaster. I'm not quite sure why Hailey has her hand over her mouth. Her Mickey Mouse ears are cute though, huh? She was Mickey Sorcerer for Halloween last year.

It was fun going with the girls. I went to Disneyland twice last year with Jake, but I haven't been with my family for years. It was fun to show my family where we got engaged. I'm excited for the water show that starts next spring. It looks better than Fantasmic.

March is here...

2009-03-17T21:47:00.002-06:00

So, last year when we were dating we made a list of things we wanted to do when it warmed up. Neither Jessica, nor I (Jake) like the cold weather. Really the only thing we think it is good for is giving us time to plan what to do when it's warm. That and cuddle. Yes. So, anyway, we thought we'd share with you some things we want to do this time around.

1. Sleep in a tent that's not in our living room.
2. Fly a kite.
3. Have a nice looking yard.
4. Blow bubbles.
5. Never wear socks. Or shoes when allowed.
6. Go to the drive in.
7. Make out in the park.
8. Jake, you can't put that last one.
9. Write inappropriate things on our blog.
10. Eat ice cream outside.

I'm sure we will think of lots more but we'll just leave you with those for now.
We love you!

Jake and Jess.
(Team AwesomeTown)

NanerJess

2009-02-03T17:08:00.005-07:00

That pretty much sums up our Superbowl experience.

love-Jake

PS-Please come!

A Season of Neglect and a New Year.

2009-01-17T14:53:00.009-07:00

Jake: Well, I am sorry for a recent neglect of our blog. The holidays are over though and we are happy to be back to normal newlywed life. We had such a great December and were reminded over and over again of how wonderful those around us are and the magnitude of our blessings. Thank you to everyone that made last year and the holiday season one we will never forget.

As far as updates go... we are now the proud teachers of 6 four year old boys in the Olympus 3rd Ward primary! It is so much fun and way better than Sunday School. Ha.

Jess: We went to dinner with Holly & Matt on New Year's Eve at Biaggi's. Evan is one of the cutest babies I've ever seen. Jake's sisters and cousin left for Mexico about two weeks ago. They seem to be having an awesome time. I just moved to a new office at work. I like it.

Jake: Let it be known that every time Jess went to write "Jake", "Jerk" was what came out. I think it might be her subconscious lashing out at me.

Jess: no comment

Jake: Anyway, on to the photos.

Jess: Chloe looks funny in this picture. Taken at Britt's birthday party.

Jake: It's par-tay Jess. Get with it.

Jake: Thanksgiving with my family. Nuff said.

Jess: This is just we went to see the lights as a family. In this photo is Kayla and Lance.

Jess: Jake decided to put one of my knee-high nylons on his head and I thought it was the funniest thing ever. I was trying to get ready, but I couldn't stop crying.

Jake: no comment. Well finally, here I am doing the Wii fit. WE LOVE YOU!

Christmas Party.

2008-12-07T15:29:00.005-07:00

That was the winner of the flyers we made.
Here are the losers just for kicks.

Ode to my Wife.

2008-11-23T15:47:00.004-07:00

I am grateful to have a reason this week to publicly express my gratitude from my better half. I am so thankful for who she is and that she saw enough in me to take a life changing chance and say yes to a dorky guy on one knee. Best thing that's ever happened to my life. Hands down.

As most of you know (though all 3 of you who read this probably knew before I did), since returning home from her mission to Mongolia about a year and a half ago, Jessica has faced the challenge of some lingering health problems contracted while serving the Lord. Us and her doctor are still not quite sure what happened but thankfully seem to be on the right path to finding complete recovery. I bring this up not to embarrass, to invoke pity or to ask for sympathy but to demonstrate the power and capacity of character that is found within Jessica. Aside from the occasional "blessings of NOT serving a mission" joke I have never once heard or sensed the slightest bit of regret or bitterness for her faithful 19 months of service as Sister Hunt. How lucky we are, both here at home and abroad, for her strength and courage. The world is better off because of who Jess is.

I am so lucky to have her in my life. Despite the times I keep her up way longer than she would like, manage to dirty the half the dishes and most of the apartment just getting ready for school, loose our utensils in my backpack when I take a lunch, or put the ketchup in the frig as opposed to the cabinet, she loves me. I am so glad to have someone who puts things "where they go" and can direct me to them when I am scrambling out the door. Or to have a well-read-spelling-bee champion to proof my papers. Or someone to make me food that makes me feel good after I eat it every time. The list could go on but I think the message is clear that I need her and appreciative beyond words that she does not mind.

Most importantly, I am so gratefully for the things that she provides in my life that are so much bigger than the day to day of our existence. She makes me smile, she makes me cry, she makes me laugh and manages to do all 3 at the same time on some occasions. I have never been one to be able to turn off my brain and just be but for the first time in my 23 years that happens and it only happens when I am with her. She is my assurance that today will be a good day because she is in it.

Thanks Jess. I mean it.

Jake

Thoughts.

2008-11-16T12:10:00.004-07:00

I have found myself in deep reflection over the past few days concerning the subject of the love of my people and how the love is being viewed now in the world due to recent events. I am a member in good standing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I try my best to hold true to the doctrines which we teach, or in other words, the teachings of Jesus Christ. I find if sad and troubling that these messages have come under so much attack as of late. I offer a few conclusion that I have reached in hopes they might be of service to one of you.

I have heard many of the possible rational of why the church that i belong to would make such bold moves in an already charged situation. I am not here to discuss these ideas with you because they are nothing more than speculation, we really don't know the exact reason outside of what the church has said in a very basic document of our faith called "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" which states as an opening paragraph:

"We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children."

I believe that, still, that God talks to his children. I believe that we still warrant the same amount of love that any other time period has received from our maker. God would not just simply let us alone in the dark to wander, He has always provided a light, a guide, a way back, and this path has always involved two main points which are the enlightenment and guidance of the Holy Ghost and Prophets which lead the church as a whole. The scriptures are full of accounts of this and if God is still that unchanging Being, this fundamental point would not change.

A lot of times as humans we are inclined to ask ourselves "how does this effect me?" I have thought lately how recent events effect me or should effect my actions. I have came to the realization that we must do as Jesus would do. That is, we must love.

Love was at the foundation of ever act Christ wrot during his perfect life, death and resurection here on earth. My thoughts are called to the story of the women taken in adultry that was brought before him by the Pharisees. As the acusations flew Chirst began to draw with his fingure in the dirt and uttered His immortal words of forgiveness and did not condem her saying "go, and sin no more" (John 8). I bring this up to show that we find perfection in all situations by follow our perfect Exemplar. Christ kept a cool head, condemned not the women and showed unmatchable love by not bend his beliefs but extending his loving hand to her. We as well find ourselves in a heated situation but I beleive that we could all benefit from drawing a little in the dirt and showing our love a little bit stronger.

I see many examples of love in the people around me. It is sad that the convictions of my faith have come off as hatefull but I contend that the only way this will be dispelled is by love. Let us not forget the open lines of the greatest sermon ever delievered:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecution for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5

I know that we will all be blessed for being those peacemakers. I know that is what Christ would have us do. I know that He loves each and every one of us, on both sides of the coin. He is the only way any of us can find joy in this life and happiness in the eternity to come. Let us be those peacemakers. I say this in the name of Jesus Chirst, my Savior. Amen

Jake

The question and the answer.

2008-11-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

Jessica: Jake & I went to the happiest place on earth in May and he decided to ask me to marry him.

Jake: Well actually I decided a while before that and had to lie to her to make her think I wasn't going to do it. I felt sort of bad but I don't think she minded.

Jessica: Jake had Ben & Tosca buy me a crown and then after we went on Pirates of the Caribbean he told me he needed to show me something. He took me to a pretty staircase in New Orleans Square, got down on one knee and put the crown on my head that was hidden in Tosca's purse. He then proceeded to hand me some roses that were also hidden in Tosca's purse. She must have stolen Mary Poppins' magical bag.

Jake: Almost but no. Ben and I went the night before to Albertson's and bought them at like 1 AM. I had to cut them to be travel size, pretty clever huh? Well, Jess said yes and started bawling and it was pretty cool.

Jessica: Correction. Jake is the one that started to cry. I quickly said yes before his heart bounced out of his chest. He was so nervous. It was so cute. We were on cloud nine the rest of the day.

Jake: Okay, she was right about that. I couldn't wipe the goofy grin off my face, as you can tell by the picture to the right. I think I remember Jess making some joke about not needing to find Goofy because she brought him with her. Real original Jess.

Borders.

2008-10-30T12:00:00.000-06:00

This last week I wrote a paper about Borders and the role they play in prejudice. I would like to share a small section of it with you concerning borders that we find within ourselves.

This internal struggle which was mentioned previously brings us to the final borders which we all face, the ones within ourselves. The idea that we are what we make of ourselves can very much be hindered by lines we believe we ourselves cannot cross. These internalized handicaps can be far more detrimental to our success and happiness than any ailment or abnormality that we are born with. They can be fed to us through years of conditioning or simply pressed upon us like a brand seared into our skin. They can even be slipped ever so lightly over our eyes like a pair of sun glasses that everyone seems to wear and have because they are desirable or just “what is done”. Whatever the reason for these barriers, no chain can match their strength.

I guess I wanted to share that with you all because I have seen people dear and important to me be held down by these self defining and limiting chains. It is sad. Nelson Mandela said " You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world... We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not in just some of us; it is in everyone."

This Inner strength can be hard to recognize at times but I think a big reason for that is because it must be cultivated. Parents, friends, teachers, these are the gardeners of our lives and but the two biggest people who can develop this strength are God and myself. One of my favorite talks on this deals with the power humility can bring called “To Walk Humbly with Thy God” by Elder Marlin K. Jensen (Click here to read it). He quotes the English Author John Ruskin when he said “I do not mean, by humility, doubt of his own power. … [But really] great men … have a curious … feeling that … greatness is not in them, but through them. … And they see something Divine … in every other man … , and are endlessly, foolishly, incredibly merciful.” That has really helped me with our outlook on myself and what I can and can't do, I hope it does the same for you.

Anyway, I just thought I would share with you what I've been thinking about as I eat my cup of noodle and smashed cookies for lunch. I don't really know what newly wed blogs do but that doesn't matter. Peace out.

Jake

2008-10-23T12:17:00.000-06:00

Well this is the start.
Enjoy.