Social Hiatus

IT'S COME TO THIS.

So, due to the current circumstances that have recently made their way into my life (non-existent car, career confusion, etc.) i've decided to take a break from everything I possibly can without losing my job haha. Although I wish this break consisted of me living in the woods for three weeks or so and not having contact with anyone but myself, i'll just be taking a social break from life. That means starting tomorrow any blog, facebook, instagram, twitter, snapchat, vine will be absent, and i'm gonna be trying to spend as much time with myself and my family. There's a lot of things I feel i've lost touch with and those things were what I considered to be most important to me at one point in my life. As Goethe puts it, "Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least." So during this time my efforts will be put forth finding what matters most to me, and you just might get a phone call from me if it's been a long time since we've spoken. This should be for my own good. I'll return and report with another blog once i've returned for those who are interested and even take the time to read this blog of mine. See ya when I see ya.

Progress/ Love conquers all

      Well.........After countless desires & attempts to remember to post another blog, here I am almost one year later. There have been so many changes so i'll do my best to remember everything that's been a major event in my life up until now. I guess to start, the temple in Honduras where I was able to work in and help with the decorative painting and gold leafing is finally finished and dedicated! It's such a blessing to know I was able to participate in something eternal. I'll never forget it and I know there are so many members that are taking full advantage of the blessings that the House of the Lord has to offer them. 
      So, since I finished working in Honduras I have returned back home to good ol' Norco for the time being. I still plan on going back up to Utah, but most likely once I attain my associate degree. I'm at Santiago Canyon College currently and taking as many classes as I can with work keeping me busy and a recently new hospital internship as well. My hands feel a bit full at times but I know that I need to prepare myself for what's ahead.....Medical School. I have a ways to go in regards to my study habits and being able to stay focused on one thing for an extended period of time. I'm actually taking a break right now from studying for my exam with the internship as I type....
      So, since school and work has taken up most of my life I get consumed by what I learn. My philosophy class has become more and more interesting as time goes by in this semester. It really has opened my eyes to critical thinking and really exploring the mind and what surrounds us. It's only a matter of applying everything you learn, which is definitely easier said than done. Things seem so motivating at the moment, with such a promising insight that moves you to think in that moment that you will change for the better, that you'll be making a more conscious effort to participate in things that would make you a better human being. But, before you know it you're on your way back home school and countless people don't use a blinker on the freeway, which causes me to forget whatever it was I had been thinking about earlier. It's probably the one thing that causes me to have any type of road rage. 
      There's a constant battle I always have with myself- being able to maintain a constant motivation for one particular thing. That's why i'm grateful for the gospel, it's the one thing that I know can always help keep me focused. That is, when I decide to be obedient and rely more on it. Lately, I really don't feel like i've been doing as much as I could and while being caught up with everything that's been keeping me so busy i've forgotten to keep things simple. That's what the Atonement is for, to help us improve in all aspects and repent of our shortcomings. 
     So, the other day I was wishing a good friend happy birthday via text because I know how busy he is with school(we always play phone tag). This is how the rest of the conversation went. He'll remain nameless.
(After wishing him happy birthday)
Him: Thanks Cody Holmes! Indeed we need to catch up, once i'm finished with this horrible finals week we shall!

Me: Sounds like a plan! Count on me being there for la boda in August!

Him:Cody, you are such a great individual. I tell Chelsea all the time how much you care about people.

 Me: You're gonna make me blush haha. I only care for those I love.

 Him: And you love everyone because you have a huge heart.


Okay, this made me feel like a million bucks. I don't agree 100% with him because I know of some people I don't necessarily care for or love.....but it made me realize that the love we show others really does go noticed. With all of the recent problems with humanity I feel its time to start expressing how we feel with others on a daily basis. One act of love can go a long ways and effect someone's life immensely. So spread the love y'all. I know I want to make an effort to do this more often. It may be embarrassing, it may seem stupid, but I know it's worth it. So be daring for a day, a week, a month, however long you want. Just make sure someone you love knows how you feel about them. 

  I think i'm done with this epistle. To those who've taken the time to read all of this, I appreciate the 10 minutes or more you've taken out of your day haha. Maybe if I wrote more often I wouldn't ramble so much. 

From a change of heart, to another change of heart.

      Hey everyone. I really wish I was better at keeping up with this, but I always feel like I have nothing exciting to write(or type) if i'm always doing it so frequently. Heck, why not at two in the morning on top of that?

     
     So, as far as updating my life goes.........i'm currently on a 3 week break from working on the temple in Honduras! Sometimes I still can't believe i've been given the opportunity to work on a temple, let alone the first one built in the country I served my mission in! So for these last couple of months, i've been visiting old families, friends, converts, not so active members, missionaries, so on and so forth. It's been incredible doing all of this and besides missing two more semesters of school, there's no where else i'd rather be at the time. The best part about this is that i'm taking part in something that will last FOREVER. Not just until I die, not until the end of the mayan calendar, not even until the end of the next "rapture". This is something I KNOW will stay standing every single day on this earth unless the Lord sees otherwise. For that, I am grateful.


     Now, for this break of mine, it's been pretty awesome. I was in Provo for a couple of weeks and got to spend some time with brothers, get some barbeque with mission buddies, wander around Midway for a bit(it's worth it, you should try it sometime), got to see a rooftop show with Desert Noises and the Moth and the Flame, played risk and didn't care that I was the first one out, saw Thrice play with some awesome people, met some new people( you know who you are) and finally beat Ryan Rios at super smash bros. twice in a row. That is blog-worthy to me. I took Buela(my car) on her first road trip to CA from Utah to make it for my man Patrick Porras' reception/ring ceremony. She didn't have cruise control or good A/C, but I managed just fine. She's definitely a keeperrrr. So, now that i'm in California, i've been to the beach of course, and spent lots of time with friends, and with family as well. My nieces and nephews are getting too big.....


     The reason my title is what it is, is because originally while I was in Honduras this last couple of months I really thought that I needed to come home and get my associates, not pay for rent, go to the beach and disneyland a little more often, see my family more often than NOT. I even enrolled for fall semester at RCC. But, since i've been home the feelings and desires for that have changed. Not that any of those things are good choices, but I think that staying in Utah and fighting for the things I want in life will help me out a little more in the long run. I mean, what would I do without fry sauce, wannabe hipsters dressing up super fancy yet not "caring" what they look like, and zoobies with their jeans and running shoes. Did I mention terrible construction/traffic/drivers? Whatever the reason is that we(people raised out of UT) complain about how "horrible" it is there, we're all there still......so i'm gonna stop complaining about it at least. I'm happy where I am and hope to see things progress in my life through the next few months! Who knows when i'll put another entry in, because I really don't haha. So until then, what would a blog be without a cheesy motivational/inspirational quote??Hope you've enjoyed reading.




"Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least."
                                         -GOETHE
 

Adjusting

Yes, I know it's been quite some time.But, with so many new things going on, I feel it'll be worth your while.

So, throughout the summer I finished up selling pest control. As much of an experience it was, I don't think i'll be at it again....and as for work currently, i'm back at vivint! But, in a way better department with Garen Russell the Love Muscle in Retention! If I had been there from the get go I probably would have never left! The money's been a great blessing to let me pay for school and everything else i've been needing. Speaking of Garen, we're now roomies, living in a cozy little duplex in South Provo where i'm able to enjoy things such as naps in the park, because there's a park like 50 feet away from us. Awesome huh?

I'm finally back in school again, at LDS business college, with the hopes and aspirations of transferring by next year to a 4-year university. It's keeping me busy and I like it. My classes are pretty sweet, and I have a genuine interest in learning more about it too.......funny, but rewarding for me. Salt Lake City is amazing, and i've got to see so many cool things in the last couple of weeks, not to mention an R.E.I. store that made me want to run away to the wasatch front and backpack for a month. Being out here in Utah has made me appreciate nature a little more and the beautiful mountain view I have on a daily basis. It's been getting pretty cold recently, like in the 40's and 50's out here. I'm getting used to the cold i guess, but I could still use a little warmth here and there.

So, after some thought and consideration, i've decided that i'm gonna train fro a triathlon! Like, the real deal. I just bought a new pair of asics to run in, and as much as they were expensive, they were sooooooooooooooooooooo worth it. My p.r. has been going down a minute a week almost! I'm actually enjoying it haha. Now, all I need is an awesome road bike(whenever that happens) to proceed. I just joined a bowling league as well, another love of mine, and i'm doing pretty well. Just got a 199 last night, and i'm upping my average by the week. Let's go pro here people.

Well, to end this, I thought I would give a cool quote I heard. It's from one of my favorite authors, Henry David Thoreau. Here it is-

"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives."
Henry David Thoreau

with that, i'm hoping that everyone is enjoying one of my favorite seasons of the year, and doing something different than you did yesterday. When we do the same thing everyday, things feel so ritual. God wants us to progress, in all aspects. Just take it one step at the time. Stay classy.

Things as they really are

(This is something i see daily now hahah)
It's been a good while since i've decided to write in this thing, so let's give it a goooooo.

As for updates, i'm selling pest control for Ecofirst now, kind of an impulse decision. But, i'm working with the best team in the company! I'm making more money than I did at Vivint anyways, which the main reason i switched over was to make enough so I don't have to work in the school year.

Not gonna lie though, life's been pretty overwhelming these last few weeks with everything. I was honored to be a groomsman for Ryan and Bri's wedding the other weekend, and I went home for about 4 days. It didn't all go down as I had planned for being with friends and family and seeing what the future held for me. But, the two times I went to the temple in that week made me realize what's most important and what I should be focusing on more often. Preparing myself to be able to go to the temple with someone I want to spend the rest of my life with. You never know when you find that person.

So, in my job, I get the chance to meet new people everyday right in their comfort zone, which makes it pretty effin uncomfortable for me sometimes to just knock on their door, interrupt them with what they were doing, and show them that it's important to have pest control taken care of in their house. So, I was knocking in the morning, and so i knocked on the door and no one answered. The house wasn't in the best condition, and I started walking away when a guy came from the side of the house and said "hold on, lemme get muh pants on real quick" hahah, so I waited and I saw this guy who let me in without question(trust me, people in Utah can be just as rude on a front door). So before i can even throw out my little sales pitch, he says he wants it taken care of because he had an infestation pretty much. So once i start letting him know about everything we were doing, we start to talk about each other's lives. Now, when i went inside, I naturally looked around to see what kind of family was living there, i'm just that nosy of a person i guess, and i saw a HUGE collection of beer bottles and cans unopened just sitting in rows by the fireplace. I figured he wasn't a member of the LDS church by then. Later on we start talking about the church, asks me if I served a mission, then he says he served one too........we both shared experiences of where we served and and so I decided to ask if he was active, and said he was , but had a word of wisdom issue and couldn't quit chewing tobacco. But, he still made sure the rest of his family was strong in the church and did what they could to do what was right. We talked for about a half hour and then I left. I find out the beer collection was a inherited gift from his father in law who had collected them from around the world and so he decided to keep it. Right before i left I started to notice hymn books and scriptures on the counters. I felt pretty stupid for what I assumed, and then I went on my way. Even the strongest people can fall at times, even when no one expects it to happen. There's lots of natural disasters going on all over the world, and lot's of noise from other people about a "rapture" and all that. No one knows but God himself when Jesus Christ comes again. Are we really ready for that? Are we really making an effort to correct mistakes we've made, tell someone we love them, even if it hurts or makes us feel stupid or nervous at times? I know i haven't been. When people say live each day like it's your last, I don't think it means to do all the stupid stuff that seems attractive at the time, but rather make everything right, and do something that's tough for you to do. Life sucks sometimes, but there's all kind of things that make it worth it. We can complain about all our trials and focus on what we don't have, or be grateful for what we do have, and work hard for what we want in life. I'm grateful for my life, that i'm alive and have a chance to be who I am and meet new people. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on the face of the earth with all my heart and look forward to having my own family to share those truths with. If you don't agree, i'd be happy to show you why. So be brave, be powerful, be happy, and be yourself.

"Sometimes we are so busy being the hammer or the anvil, that we forget who really needs the shaping".

- Neal A. Maxwell

Have a great week errbody

Mi Nuevo Perspectivo

Well........ To start. It's been about a month now since i've been living in Provo, and so far, i'm having a really good time, and a lot sooner than i expected. Part of it could be that I get to see and hang out with my best friends, some from home, a lot from the mission. It could also be that I get to check the music scene out here and feel somewhat inspired to participate in that myself in the near future. Or it could be that I have a job that i actually enjoy doing. Haha, I could think of a bunch of reasons to explain why is life is so awesome, but i'll just leave it as this. I feel like i've been able to keep up with the necessities like scripture study and prayer, and exercise finds it's way in my schedule too.

I do miss home, but I know i'm where i should be :) I'm slowly getting all my ducks in a row, and it feels pretty good that for the most part i'm getting it taken care of on my own. Time's been going really fast lately and i'm having trouble remembering everything i've been doing these days to make sure it all happens how it should. Maybe i should write down things a little more often.....

I had the chance to go to the Sunday morning session of General Conference thanks to an extra ticket from Danny. Not gonna lie, I was dozing off a bit during it, but I was still able to remember what stuck out to me. It seemed to me that the main themes were about service, Temple attendance, and(of course) marriage. I'll have plenty of "repenting" from the occasional shavings i got from our General Authorites, but isn't that what it's all about? Just some reminders for us to stay on track. It's always the same things that are repeated, just with prepared insights that just might get to us more than before. These next few Sunday's are going to most likely be preparing us for Easter, which is a good thing.

So, since i've been up here i've had lots of alone time to think about life and what's around me. I've just been trying to understand why people do the things they do and try to notice what I do myself and why. I love how unique everyone is, from what type of food they like to their preference in style and opinions on life in all different ways. I think I have something to learn from every person I meet in this life and that there's a reason I was born at this time as well as everyone else in my path. We may not all agree on the same things, but slowly we all begin to understand each other and have better judgement, which gives us better character in the long run.

Anyways, i'm enjoying life and what it's bringing to the table. I'm also trying to be a little more grateful for what I have and be willing to help those who don't have the same opportunities. Slowly but surely :)

Lost Treasure

I'm a free man finally! The boot and stitches are off my foot, and i'm ready to move on!

Ready for a new adventure, that's for sure :)

I found an old book that my sister sent me while I was in Honduras called "The Power of Attitude" and it changed my life once before, and it will again. Life is looking up!