The Simple Things...

Today I woke up to the birds singing!! I have not heard those beautiful sounds in some time. The sun came out from behind the clouds and it reminded me of this quote:

"No matter how long the winter, it is always followed by spring."

I am so grateful for all the beautiful things around me. I am so grateful for Ashley and all that she is. She is always such an amazing example, truth, that there are angels on the earth today. She always has such a glow about her. Ashley is always a witness of Christ wherever she is. She always shows me how I can be doing better, and how I can grow closer to my Heavenly Father. These past few weeks have been so wonderful. I can feel all of God's love around me, everywhere; in the birds singing, the flowers finally coming out, the big blue sky, the Priesthood, the Holy Spirit, and many more things. Thank you Ashley for always helping me honor my priesthood.

Often times when I feel stressed out, I will go play piano. It helps to clear my mind and remind me of another blessing I can enjoy; the beautiful sounds of music. I play hymns, my own compositions, or other songs that make me just feel so grateful.

What would life be like if you couldn't hear the many sounds around you?

What if you couldn't see the flowers in the spring?

Or smell the air after the rain?

Or taste your favorite food?

What if you couldn't touch the new fallen snow during winter?

I have never really thought much about all the wonderful blessings that I have around me. I decided after recognizing these few blessings to give a prayer of thanks for all that I have. Anytime that you think you have it hard, that you can't enjoy the world around you, that you are forgotten, think about a few of these questions. Ashley thank you for being a physical answer to my prayers. Thank you for being one of the many wonderful blessings I have received day after day. Although I see you day after day, and will soon be with you always,...I will always try my very best to thank you for the great blessing you are to me every day.

Patience........

This past four weeks I have been in the process of submitting my mission papers to receive my call. Four weeks ago, I was completing them and thought I had filled them out completely and I turned them in. During this time my parents were out of town so I drove down to meet with my stake president. After reviewing them he saw that they were complete and was going to send them out. It turned out that there was a problem with some of the medical information that needed to be filled out correctly, that I was not aware of at the time. My stake president called my home phone number and left a message stating this, but I was not home, nor my family. So...for a week and a half, I thought my papers were submitted, until my parents came home and called me up with the bad news, telling me that I had to correct the medical information and then they could be sent. All my excitement had been building up, expecting my call to come that week. However, they never went in; I completed the medical stuff and we submitted them on the next Monday. As we called my bishop to check the status of my call, now expected it to come in two weeks, our excitement slowly was building. To my surprise, yet again, my papers had just barely been processed and were still waiting to be reviewed by the brethren, so...yet another week.

I have always thought that I had patience with most things in my life, and now I have learned that I may have been somewhat patient, but I can be more patient. They say that patience is a virtue, so I guess you could say I'm learning to be virtuous. I have been so excited to receive my call to serve, and I guess I get to receive a lesson along with it. I know the past few weeks have been kind of disappointing, but I have learned a great lesson.

Think about those children of God that have passed on to the next life, without ever hearing the gospel here on earth. Think about how excited and desirous they are to be baptized into His church. There must be millions or billions of them seeking this vital ordinance. I have nothing compared to these amazing people as far as patience goes. When I thought of these wondrous souls it calmed my thoughts, and now I know that my time to wait is so very short and I can learn so much with this added time. I am so grateful for the ordinance of baptism that I have received here on earth. I am grateful for a worthy father that baptized me, confirmed me with the Holy Spirit, and also has ordained me with the preparatory Aaronic Priesthood, and the fulfilling Melchizedek Priesthood. I hold those blessings, those ordinances, so close to my heart and I am so grateful for my father's worthiness to bestow them upon me.

As this next two weeks unfolds, I watch and wait, calmly, for my call to serve. I know that in the time that He wants them to come, they will. I have learned that I can be much more patient and more grateful for what I do have. I love this gospel and all the blessings and guidance and purpose it gives me in my life. I am grateful for Ashley and her patience with me to help me through this great lesson, and I am so excited to take care of her, always. But first a mission for the Lord. Thank you for the lesson.

I'm so blessed...

Hey Ashley,

I just wanted to post this blog today telling you how grateful I am that I can give you this blog website for your birthday. I have been working alot on this blog and during all this time I get to think about all that you do for me. It is so AMAzing to see how for we have come since we met each other. We have had SO many great times together. I have tried to talk about some of the events that really meant alot to me, and to you, and it feels so good to just remember good times. Every day with you, seriously, every day, has been the greatest day. We always have so much fun together. Through the laughs and the frustration (usually my fault), the random jokes and the school, I have really loved all that we have shared together. This blog has meant alot to me. I have become so grateful for all that you do for me. Even though this blog only highlights a few of our experiences, I remember so many different occasions where we have had the best of times. I know that the thanks goes to you. You mean the world to be Ashley. Thank you for always laughing with me (even though my jokes resemble a small, prickly, green cactus in the desert). You always treat me so good! You have always been so sweet to me and really...been my sweetheart. I hope you enjoy this blog and you remember some of our best times and know that I love you with all my heart. I will be back to hold you, so soon.

Your sweetheart,

Jarem

Thank you family...

I just wanted to post a few words on family. I love this gospel. I love my family. I know that it is no accident that I came into this world in the family that I did. My parents both do so many things on my behalf that I never even notice. They are always there for me and always support me. Whether it be a small encouragement they give me or hard love, they have always been there for me. I know most of the time I probably do not even notice what they do for me, and I might even simply shrug my shoulders at the effort and love that they give me. I just wanted to say thank you to them. I know that sometimes I can be a real difficulty to deal with at times, but I really do, deep down, love and appreciate all that they do. A word to Brinton and Nicolle also.

Brinton thank you for hanging out with me, sharing fun times with me, and for sometimes being the BEST example. Thanks for making me better, and for always being so supportive. You are always so fun to be around, and you make everyone welcome no matter where you are.

Nicolle, my amazing sister!! College is crazy! Thank you for all the advice and help with college transitions. Thanks for sharing awesome crazy laughs with me!! I remember the time, driving home late at night, when we were both crying so hard laughing that I had to pull over like ten times!! Thanks for always caring to simply call me and see how I am doing. Thank you for your example of working hard and sticking to it.

Today I just wanted to post a little something about my family, to them and to my sweetheart, Ashley. I had added strength come to my testimony of eternal families today. I am so grateful for my parents, and my brother and sister for all that they do for me. I know that we are sent down to earth to be tested, and things will be hard. They will be as hard as we can physically and spiritually experience. I know that we have not been sent here alone. Heavenly Father is always listening, waiting, for prayers to ask for his help. I also know that we are not here to endure this life alone. He sent us with the greatest people we could be around to help us; our family. We are sent here to help each other get through things together. Sometimes it may seem that our families are less than divinely organized, but I do know that we were specifically sent here together because we are meant to be together, forever.

Recently, whenever I think about my family and the idea of an eternal family I become a little teary-eyed knowing that I can be with my family forever if I do what he has asked me. The idea that my relationships with my family can be eternal brought tears to my eyes today. I love my family. Thank you for all that you do for me.

Ashley I want you to, (when you get a chance) go and give your parents a huge hug and tell them that you love them. Sit down with them and ask them how you can help them. Ask what you can do for them, just talk to them, and be there for them. It is incredible what our parents do for us. The things they sacrifice for our behalf are remarkable. I find myself guilty of not being as appreciative of my parents, and so I will be doing this same thing. Just sit down with them. Hug them with all the energy that you have, tell them that you love them. Without them helping you, see what you can do for them. Our parents sacrifice years of selfless service to raising us and teaching us how to be the sons and daughters of God that they know we were born to be. Although at times it may seem that our parents are a little koo-koo in the head, listen to them. Their only desire is to help us, to show us how we can be happy, and to always be there for us.

I am so excited to start my own family in the future and I hope that I can try my best to pattern my life after some of the great lessons my parents have given me. I love them with all my heart and I am so excited to soon share those experiences with you. Thank you Ashley for always caring, supporting, and listening to me. You are there to rub my back when it is sore, help me through a not-so-good day. You are my best friend. Thank you for your example. You quietly serve so many people around you and I want to tell you Thank You. I appreciate ALL that you do for me and I know that you will be so blessed for all the service that you render to all the people that you do. Christ is often referred to as the Almighty, our King, Jehovah. Even though these great titles when accompany a God that is all loving, all serving, and all caring, (as Christ is), Jesus Christ is the greatest example in mankind of simple to great selfless service. Rather than taking up a throne as a King normally would, Christ was a King that served beneath the lowest of servants. He was a man on earth that showed us that service can come from the greatest there is, and we can serve all. Thank you for reminding me of His great service. I see some of those same service attributes within you and I know that Light of Christ within you is there because you live your life as His daughter.

Again, thank you so much to my family and to my best friend. You have always been there and I am SO grateful for everything that you do for me. It is humbling to know that so many people are willing to stand next to me and be such great and noble examples to me. Everyday.

Valentines Day...

Thanks to the great expenses that go into college here at BYU, Ashley and I did what we could within our budget for Valentines day. At first I was worried that our date wouldn't be that great because I didnt really have much money at all, but I later found out that I was so amazing and so spiritual and you can have so much without the money.





Ashley and I went downtown to the Salt Lake Temple where we did baptisms. I had never previously done baptisms there and was so excited to go. This temple is so amazing. It is incredible the feeling that overcomes you when you are there. The heritage that you feel of the Salt Lake Temple is so different than that of any other temple. Just the feeling you have, knowing it took forty years to build the temple, the many sacrifices (some of which we don't even know about) that the pioneers endured to finally come to this land, and here we are, in that same temple doing work for those who have past on.

This Valentines was such a special day for both Ashley and me. The fact that you don't need all the money and the chocolates and roses and worldly gifts to spend together. We had the amazing gift of feeling the spirit there in his temple. The day after we went out to lunch at a great Italian restuarant, Carrabbas, and we had a great time there also. It is so wonderful to know that all around us are so many beautiful temples that have been built for us to do work in, and also to eventually be sealed together as families, eternal. This experience added to my testimony of temple work and I am so grateful for all the work and travel, time and effort that our late prophet President Hinckley has given, to bring forth these many holy temples of worship across the globe. Thank you Ashley for sharing that special experience and spirit with me. These kinds of experiences are what really mean the most; its not the money and the gifts but the spiritual experiences that we will remember and truly cherish.

Lookin' Around

Today was such a wonderful day. For the past few weeks it has been nothing but snow. And if it wasnt snowing, it was hazy, overcast, and cold. Don't get me wrong, I love the snow and I know that we need the moisture, but after a while it gets to ya. Well today was such a beautiful day. It was a nice, sunny, warm Sunday afternoon. As if my spirits weren't high enough (I finally turned in my mission papers today), the spirit abode with Ashley and me all afternoon. We took a walk to the Provo temple to walk around there. As we approached the temple we were overwelmed with the dozens of missionaries there, circled around the temple and walking the grounds. I had such a strong feeling of the spirit; a feeling of peace knowing within a few months, I will be one of those missionaries.

As we began to head back down the hill towards BYU I couldn't help but notice all the wonderful things around us. We both sat down and talked about just five things that we could spot that we were grateful for. When we just counted only five, it really got me thinking of blessed we really are. We noticed beautiful trees that can carry snow on them during the winter, have wondrous colors in the fall, and give us a cool shade during the summer. We also saw a big blue sky that touched both horizons blue to blue. Between two trees we could spot the steeple of the temple and see Angel Moroni sounding his trumpet.

We talked about many wonderful things that God has given us. I am so grateful for all the many blessings I have in my life. From a family that is always supportive of me and loves me, to the beautiful earth around us. It is so incredible to realize, among all God's creations, the waters, the lands, the creatures, and all the many worlds that he has created, that he loves us. It is so amazing to realize that he cares enough about us, within his universal realm, to know us by name, to grant unto us opportunities to feel of the spirit, and to get to know him. I am also so grateful for his beautiful daughter that I got to share this sweet experience with.

Ashley, you always carry the spirit with you. Thank you for always being who you truly are, his daughter, even a princess. You always have the light of Christ abiding within you. You are one of the most beautiful things I have seen on this wondrous planet that he has created, and I thank my heavenly father for you, because you are one of the most special and beautiful blessings within my life.

Happiness

Today I had an amazing spiritual experience with Ashley. I wont go into details about it, because it was so special and I'm positive that she remembers, but I do want to say that it was so special to me. Thank you Ashley for always having the spirit with you!!
Sometimes when life gets you down, just pray. Ask heavenly father to help you. The past few weeks werent that hard, but I just felt like I wanted so badly, to feel the spirit more. I would get frustrated with my busy school schedule and find it hard to have the best day. I had continuously simply prayed that I might feel the spirit more each day than I previously had. And today it finally came. It hit me like a ton of bricks...And there is one wonderful thing I can say about it.

I love this gospel, everything about it.

When you are frustrated and need help, pray. Always remember to pray. We are on his timetable. There are about six billion other people he is trying to listen to at the same time. Be patient, he will answer your prayers. If you feel lonely, sad, lost, or without comfort, pray. When you are at your worst times, thinking there is nothing else to do, pray.

This past night, I received a wonderful answer, a blessing, to my prayers. I had been feeling that school just kept dragging on, I was a little worn out. When life gets you down, pray. After praying again, sincerely, I almost instantly felt the spirit SO strong. It was nearly twice as strong as I have felt it in some time. I felt so happy! So excited, so humble, so warm, and so full of joy. That moment, I will call happiness.

In Mosiah 2:41 it talks about feeling a never ending state of happiness. That is what we should all appeal to. That is our hope, to have God with us, and feel of his never ending happiness. It may have been just for an hour or two that I felt so incredibly alive with the spirit, so calm, yet so joyful and warm, so peaceful, yet so excited to feel more. That short time is worth everything. It is worth praying for that extra room for the spirit. It is worth having the not so good days. It is worth everything.

Thomas Jefferson talked about happiness. Within the Constitution, he talked of the pursuit of happiness, and that a man could never attain actual happiness but had the inalienable right to pursue it. One day, when we can walk with God, we will feel of never ending happiness. We cannot comprehend the feelings and emotions we will have then. But I can say as for now, that when you have worked so hard, prayed, and struggled...when that day comes that you can feel of his love SO strong, its worth it all. Although our happiness here may be but for a small moment, it is worth all the effort.

Think of how amazing it will be to have Happiness always, with God...

Do all you can here and now to attain that, and He will bless you along the way, until you can walk with Him.

Just Thought I'd Say

Dear Ashley,

I love you.

Love,

Your sweetheart

A Poem

An old man, going a lone highway,

Came at the evening, cold and gray,

To a chasm, vast and deep and wide,

Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim;

The sullen stream had no fears for him;

But he turned when safe on the other side

And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,

"You are wasting strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the ending day;

You never again must pass this way;

You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide,

Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head:

"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,

"Therefore followeth after me today

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm that has been naught to me

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;

Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."


William Allen Dromgoole




I love the message this poem speaks. Christ was
our bridge builder. He led the way, first, before
us all. He went through all our trials and suffered
so that he would know how to help us.

Christ crossed our chasms and has built us bridges
to show us the way across. He has shown us the way.
Do what you can to build a bridge for someone else today.

A Few Words On The Priesthood

Sometimes when things get tough you just wish there was someone there to help you. You may feel sick, frustrated, tired, sad, or many other things that just seem to bring you down. I am so grateful that I have the Priesthood. It is an wondrous comfort to know the Priesthood is here to help all that have the faith and stand in need. I feel so humbled to have that authority and I pray everyday that I may be worth to carry that power with me, always. Carrying that Priesthood is such a blessing to me. It entitles the Spirit to heal, comfort, guide, and direct whomever is being blessed. It allows for the salvation of man through Christ's great Atonement. The Priesthood grants the opportunity unto all who wish to donate to save another's life, to give food to the poor, clothing to the naked, comfort to the weary soul. I cherish this Priesthood in my heart because of the service I can render through it. My having the Holy Melchizedek and Aaronic Priesthood allows the Spirit to be with all of God's children.

I am also so grateful to the many amazing daughters of God in this world. Young and old, that recognize the Priesthood, and they strive to help young men like myself, to always be worthy of it. Ashley, I am humbled to be around you; to feel of your love, your comfort, and your conviction of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you so much Ashley, for always pushing me to do better, to always be worthy, to be the son of God I know He wants me to be. Thank you for being there right beside me to help me along the way. Thank you for the person that you are. You are such a great example to me everyday.

In preparation to go and serve the Lord, I thank my parents for their love and their guidance. They have always been there for me, and taught me how to be the best Priesthood holder and a better person each day. Thank you dad, for your example of an amazing father and an honest and selfless husband. Thank you mom, for listening to me, for pushing me to do better, and always believing in me.

Our First Kiss

Our first kiss was perfect. I'm sorry I have to be honest with everyone but it truly was. We had been dating for about a month, and we were both anxious for the right time, just not talking about it too often. It was on a stormy yet warm afternoon during the summer. We went up Parley's Canyon to go shoot the tube (ride inner tubes down a water reserve tunnel that went through the mountain). When we got there, we hiked down to where the water was. Ashley slipped and fell on her cute bum and felt embarrassed about it, but it was fun!! We soon found out that the water was too cold, and it started to lightly rain. So,.. disappointed, we hiked back up to near the parking lot. On our way up there, we stopped just for a second to see the sun coming back out, and in front of it were two gorgeous rainbows. It was such a beautiful thing to see. I'm sure Ashley was so amazed to see it...myself, I was busy amazed looking at her...seriously. When we got to the parking lot, we decided we would just lay on the grass underneath a tree nearby. We got closer and, for the first time, I got to just hold Ashley, close, in my arms. I looked her into the eyes, waited to feel that it was right, and I shared a short, wonderful first kiss with my Ashley, my sweetheart. I will never forget this moment. I wanted so bad for her to have the best first kiss, and I feel like that day was nothing short of amazing. After we both felt so good,...Ashley jumping around for joy, and myself, I just saw such a beatiful daughter of God, and I wondered and awed at how lucky I was...I still feel that same exact way about her, today.