Dan Fogelberg - Leader of the band "with lyrics"

Dan Fogelburg is my most favorite guitarist and poet. Here's one of my most favorite songs by him. It's the kind of song I would like to learn for Fathers Day.

The Morning Breaks, the shadows flee!

Hallelujah!

This morning started out fantastically. Excercise + conference reruns = YEAH BABY!

I feel hope today, because my Spirit has been nourished with the strength of the Lord. This is a perfect example showing why we should "seek the Lord early". A good day starts with a good morning.

I have elaborated on my scheduling techniques today. Due to the fail of yesterday's plans, I have decided to define my purposes in life first, and then derive goals for the day from them. For example, today I wrote: Roles: Brother/Son, Friend, Student, Child of God, Scout, Pianist, Guitarist, and Actor (hopefully I'll get some info from my friend about the autitions for Almost Maine today...).

I kept these goals in mind as I put together today's outline, making sure that I keep a good balance of everything that I'm working on, and that I do not overephasize any of the babylonial roles (everything except for Child of God).

I feel so excited for today!

Scripture of the day: 2 Nephi 33:6.

Listed blessings for 12-7-10

Okay, here's how it went today:

I wanted to try this crazy idea of doing schoolwork at the STAKE CENTER after seminary via my laptop. I had used wifi before there, and I thought I would be able to use it again. It didn't work out, but the assumed failure turned out to be a blessing in disguise! As I was walking around the stake center to try to find service, I found my red binder that has been lost since Halloween! Now I've got a lot of my music back now; yay! There's #1. I also got info about the geneology stuff from some of the people that were there doing that work too... I'm going to have to find some of my family's information before I can do much on the site...

2#: The YMCA had wifi that worked! And, just to be the cherry on top, I got to go to my first Latin II Livelesson! Ceana and I thought it was funny that her "prophecy" of me getting one in by the end of the semester actually came to pass; it was the last Latin LL of the semester!

3#: I got to see and wave at Amanda (from karate) at GP Middle school as I ran home from the Stake Center!

4#: I feel happy about the results of today's Science work.

5#: I got emails from Ceana today.

6#: I got (almost) everything school-wise done I had planned on doing.

7#: I have such an awesome learning environment.

8#: I have been born in the gospel and have been raised and cared for by loving parents.

9#: My Savior gives me hope. A way to return, everytime I foolishly fall.

10#: I have lots of fun things to practice and look forward to this winter break.

11#: I've eaten YUMMY food all day long.

12#: Tomorrow is near; another opportunity to "work harder"!

Bring it on!

A great Start

Yesterday mother proposed a new plan for the average weekday: Get up at 4:30, go to YMCA and work out there till 6:30, go to seminary at 7, and start your day at 8:30. That takes care of the most important things in my day FIRST so I don't have to try to squeeze in working out (and getting my driver out of the house) at a later time of day. It is a wonderful physical and spiritual boost for the day!

Today was a very ideal day, I must say. I got everything in that I had planned on doing. I'm trying a new, rather simple day-plan strategy. I make a simple outline of the day's tasks in chronological order and DO IT. Today I got divine help in finding things, keeping negative thoughts out of my head, and sticking to my plans. I am nothing, and I will always be nothing. My God has all power, everything good that any man does is because of His ultimate Genius and Mercy. He is the one that inspires great leaders, scientists, philosophers, prophets, and normal people, whether they acknowledge his help or not. I'm going to make it a lifetime goal to ALWAYS acknowledge his hand in all things.

I have exciting plans in mind for this week and beyond! Fa really wants to have a LOTR movie night with a bunch of our friends, we are going to do that caroling thing, I'll have the opportunity to sing in church this coming week, I'm going to invite Cassidy, Allie and Mikaela to come to church (1. For invitation Sunday, 2. To come and see Sabrina and me sing). Scouting is going well, and I'm having a blast working on the Medicine and Engineering Merit Badges! The Eagle Scout project is still coming together as well.

I know that not all days are going to be as good as today, but I know that if I just keep trusting in the Lord, everything should turn out right in the long run. Ug, SO HAPPY!!

I Believe in You - Il Divo and Celine Dion

Here is one of my most favotie songs. That one tenor is INSANE! Well, all of the Il Divo guys are unbelievable! Celine Dion has a wonderfully strong female voice! The lyrics are beautiful and inspiring too. :)

:D

Haha, it's so wonderful how the gospel can take anyone out of the lamest frames of mind!

Scripture of the day is 2 Nephi 2:2. Our afflictions (EVERYTHING that causes us pain or grief) is dedicated to a sacred purpose. There is a reason for everything! It is to draw us closer to Christ. Even self-inflicted trouble (lol, like what's been happening to me all week long) is here to refine us and to teach us! Thankfully, with the Lord's help, I've found my way out (again) of the hole I've dug for myself.

I also realize that a study of the scriptures can be more helpful than anything else. After studying this week, I realized that my despair came from one thing: Fear. I knew I needed to study fear to identify my own and conquer them. Confront them. Not to escape from them, not to try to kill them, but to accept them and act according to what God expects me to do. While looking this up I found the verse that was the basis for verse 3 in the song How Firm A Foundation; it was awesome! It's Isaiah 41:10.

Later, while studying for the Personal Management Merit Badge online, I came upon this online book written by some psycology professor. It was awesome because it was a totally free online self help book! I read it briefly in the chapter concerning Procrastination, and sure enough, the core of the type of mental disorder I have is fear. And I didn't even need a proffessor to tell me that! The scriptures are there, and can be used to solve ANY probem. All the same, it is helpful to read what these learned men are finding, as long as what they write is correct according to the gospel. http://www.psychologicalselfhelp.org/Chapter4/chap4_76.html
Seriously, go look at this site and learn about the different types of procrastinators. It's fascinating!

:) Well, tonight is the Community Creche festival that our Stake sets up every year. Grandpa will be the sculptor on site again. I'm excited to see who's performing the live music. My little brother said that I missed out on an awesome a cappella version of Carol of The Bells last year; I'm excited to see what's cooked up for this year's music. I invited my friend from choir to come along, but she won't be able to make it. Hm, ah well. I wonder if she could make it to the ward Christmas party...

I've had thoughts of having a big caroling team made up out of youth from the stake for this Christmas season. I hope I'll be able to get that coordinated; I'm still not certain if we'll be able to do it.

Ha, schoolwork has gone downhill all week. But that's okay; we've got all Christmas break, the weekend, and TODAY to catch up. Combating procrastination here... "Okay Keenan, just 5 more minutes... *works for another hour*"

Haha, nice try Satan! Can't take me down that easily.

ENOUGH!

I've had it. I'm not allowing myself to act so glum. "Keenan, you will be HAPPY! Whether you like it or not!"

Let me talk about the last few days, just to unload.

I am not going back to choir. Ever. Well, it sounds like a happy ending, right? Sad thing is, guilt comes with the package; I have abandoned the friends I have made there at choir.

Last night my youth group did a temple trip, which I didn't go on. My sister and I got there at the stake center early, and so I decided to study a bit in the foyer where a comfortable couch was. I love the scriptures. Them + a good study guide = something that can keep me occupied for a very long time. And so it did. They left without me knowing. When I decided to go look at the room where they all would meet, I found it empty. I had missed out on the opportunity of serving at the temple.

For the last few days I have been in total despair. I know that there's hope; I just need to find it.

I will find it.