I'm engaged!

Yes, this has been way too long coming. So very much has happened since my last post! Most importantly, I am engaged to the greatest woman ever, Janessa Erekson. She is literally the greatest blessing of my entire life. She's my best friend, my confidante, my greatest support, my greatest motivation, my reason and purpose. I love her already more than words can articulate.

Our Story

The Beginning
The first spark caught in each other's eyes almost 3 years ago was very impressionable. We were at BYU together. We both had crushes on each other, but because of several complications, we never got the courage to date each other the first year of friendship.  I remember telling my mom that I could easily marry Janessa, after just knowing her for weeks! I couldn't help but notice that she is a light bulb! Everything was brighter when she was around. She was literally a one-of-a-kind woman. I was blown away by her ability to lighten things for others, her amazing balance of being responsible and crazy at the same time, her spiritual stature, her phenomenal public speaking ability, her contagious giggle that brightens any room, her poise in trial, her breathtaking beauty, her drive in athletics and school, and her beautiful voice. I'll never forget how she voluntarily came to my aid to be a listening ear and friend in a trying time in my life during that year. That act of inspiration and kindness has stuck with me, has never left. From then until fully dating we were just good friends and our paths crossed in countless ways. The second year of our friendship, we stayed in touch  while I was in Virginia and she was in UT. I never took my eye off her though!


First Date - An Uncanny Foreshadowing
The summer after grad school, I came back to UT. I took her out to a mutual friend's wedding reception. I remember being amazed at how easy and natural it was to talk to her. I don't think either of us stopped smiling the entire time we were together. This friend's courtship story ironically would foreshadow our own. Neither of us knew at this point that this would be the case. Being in completely different states, they decided to do the distance thing. Through Skype and frequent-flyer miles, they fell in love and tied the knot. I remember looking at Janessa when I dropped her off and I had to look away because I was smitten by her, it took me off guard, and I was so scared of starting something that would end up in a distance relationship. Little did I know what was coming!


A Flirting Fall
I had no idea that Miss Dolly Levy's words would be so fortuitous in our relationship when she said, "You'll go your way, and I'll go mine," and she points in the same direction. In the Fall, I started to work in the Bay area with Ernst & Young, beginning to dig the trench of my career. Janessa was still in UT. Finally, after over 2 years of being friends I admitted my long interest in her, having no hope that she would even reciprocate, having no idea what it would even mean if she did reciprocate. Well, she expressed the same thing back! We began emailing and calling here and there, not knowing what would come of it as she was moving to Virginia, right where I was a year earlier. How convenient! TIMING! We would be 3,000 miles apart for at least 18 months, as her nursing school was that long. Or so we thought we'd be apart that long. ;-) You'll see how it just took 3 years to finally get that timing piece in place! I was so drawn to her, had been for years, and I knew this was my last chance! I flew out to UT before she left, awkwardly expressed my wishes that we could be together but had no real answers and then I headed back to CA, both of us a little scared and confused as to what would come of us. We began Skyping, calling, and writing emails much more regularly. We were falling in love!

February - When Love Happens
One day in February, I finally woke up and decided to risk it all and fully commit to the distance and bring on the uncertainty and the endless lists of unknowns. I realized that I was in love with her and that nothing else mattered. I needed her in my life, for good! She was better than the best girl I could even ever dream of! I called Janessa and told her all of my intentions. I flew out to VA twice in the next month to see her and was on Cloud 118. I decided to "talk" to her dad on the second visit. That night, we purchased rings! Two weeks later was her birthday, and with that I decided to propose with elephantine proportions. ;-)

The Proposal
One thing you have to know about Janessa is one word: elephant! Also chocolate, but elephants are up there too. It has been Janessa's dream to ride an elephant. Even before we were officially dating, I had promised her that I would make sure she would ride an elephant (implicitly if she married me. ya, I knew what I was doing!). Well, I was flying out there to propose and I had no idea of what I was going to do to fulfill the heavy expectations of her first birthday with me in her life AND propose! There was a lot at stake here! There was no way I could actually get her an elephant in the US, least of all places in VA. Or so I thought!

A week before I was coming out I set off a trend of sending her little gifts via email and mail that individually pointed to a letter, which in total sporadically spelled E-L-E-P-H-A-N-T. Just days before I was to fly out there to try to surprise her, I had no firm plan of what I was going to do! I was committed to do something with an elephant now, with these gifts already steadily spelling out the surprise. The only requirements for the proposal were that it had to (1) be creative (from her dad) and (2) make her laugh (from Janessa). I thought of sending her on a goose chase that led her to a park where I was dressed in an elephant costume. I know, ridiculous, and totally unromantic and I cringed when I thought of her telling others such a story! haha Or even worse, our kids! "Daddy, you're strange!" I couldn't take that. So I also thought of just getting a nice stuffed elephant to help with the question. All OK ideas, but just not nearly enough. Go big or go home! I had to show her what she meant to me. Then it occurred to me that I just HAD to get an elephant. I seriously had no idea how, but it was my endless pursuit during the days before I headed to Virginia to find one. I tried circuses...nope. I tried the zoos both in CA and in Virginia... nope. I tried looking for a random elephant taming group that could travel to VA...nope. It was just days away, what was I to do! Then, I don't remember what I typed in my search but I found this painfully-small zoo with one elephant in southern VA. I called them and found out that they gave rides! BUT they only do rides until 3 p.m. I was flying in on a red-eye flight that Friday, going straight to the jewelry store to pick up the ring, then straight to my best friends wedding, and I couldn't be at the small zoo until 5 p.m. I was leaving the following morning. In town for less than 24 hours! What was I to do? I called the zoo back to see if they could make an exception! A miracle happened and Mark, the elephant trainer, and his wife, Karen, had sympathy for me all of a sudden and became the most accommodating people in the world. During the last few days up to the weekend, we all three concocted a plan of all plans!

Please refer to my or Janessa's Facebook page for the picture story of the engagement, titled "The Proposal"!

I never thought I could love this much or be this happy! It truly is worth every pain and trial to wait for the right person to marry! I'm not counting down or anything but...

Top of Utah Marathon

My little brother and sister came to cheer me on in this goal of mine! Isn't family amazing! We had such a great time together before and after the race. I think they might have had a better time during though. haha

So a year ago I would have laughed if you told me I was going to run a marathon; but by the grace of God I was able to train and complete one! What better time in my life to do it? "Why not?" I reasoned.

Funny story though: I forgot my iPod down at the finish line when I entered the bus to take me to the start line. I know, you thinking "big boohoo" but I had trained with music and had my routine all planned out. Well, that plan didn't work. haha Also, when we were about to start the race up some canyon near Logan, UT, it started raining cows and sheep (please appreciate the largeness of the animals). I mean torrential downpour! That woke everyone up pretty quickly! Throughout the race it rained sporadically. The best part though is the fact that at about mile 16 it hailed! haha Can you believe it? I just looked up and said, "Really?" but then I said, "Hey, I'm still smiling! Take that life!"

It was such a social event. I made several friends while running actually. ;) Chatting with people while running is a custom apparently in these races. I enjoyed that aspect of the race. I even had an elderly man egg me on on the last several miles of the race while heading up a hill. I was so mad at that guy during the race but very grateful afterwards. haha

I did finish in one piece and just missed my goal by about 14 minutes. I may just have to do another one with better conditions to try to reach it.

OK, so if I can do it, anyone can. I would never consider myself a runner. So if you ever want to prove yourself you can do one just give me a call. I'll convince you otherwise.

I'm on iTunes!!!!

It's been a dream of mine since I was about 15, when I wrote my first song, to one day cut a real CD. Well, I don't have an entire album yet but I do have a single on iTunes! It's a song I wrote a couple years ago called "Feel It Too".

I'm seriously considered producing a couple more of my songs before real life hits in the Fall. We will see. Boy is it a fun hobby for me though!

Amazing Accounting Conference

I had the honor of interviewing Daniel Goelzer, former General Counsel for the SEC and Executive Assistant to the SEC Chairman, as well as former Acting Chairman and founding member of the PCAOB. Needless to say, he is an authority on accounting oversight in our country. The interview was actually filmed; I might post a link about it when it's finished being edited. I think he's a very interesting person. It’s very humbling to see all of your idiosyncrasies on the camera. I think I'll keep my day job! What an incredible experience for me though.

While at this accounting conference, I was able to hear David Walker speak. He is the former Chairman of the GAO, the former Comptroller General (country’s head accountant) and CEO of the Come Back America Initiative and the No Labels movement. This guy is the authority on our country’s deficit problem. Basically, I left with the cemented understanding that we have a ridiculous unfunded set of entitlement programs in this country. I also learned that it is not too late if we buckle down and fight it now. What a neat experience to hear him speak.

I also got to hear from Kathleen L. Casey, one of the five Commissioners of the SEC. Her talk was so boring, I’m not going to lie. Her position is very influential though and she seemed like a very nice, extremely bright, caring woman.

Bill Nye through the Gospel Eye

I had the interesting opportunity of hearing Bill Nye speak at my school. The science icon of our youth received roaring applause as he walked on stage. He could barely get a word out without being blown away with a tidal wave of affectionate cacophony.

He’s a smart guy! A mechanical engineering major from Cornell and former employee of Boeing, Bill was definitely qualified to teach adolescents about science. After his career with the famous series of “Bill Nye the Science Guy”, Bill took off on a duel campaign for sustainability (minimizing our carbon footprint and slowing down global warming) and space exploration. Both are somewhat interconnected he believes.

In fact, his presentation basically meshed space exploration and environmentalism together. He started by showing some incredible pictures of planets from our solar system and from other parts of the universe. Light was a major theme of his. He pointed out that the same light that brings life to our planet lights up the pictures of the Marsian landscape and the majestic rings of Saturn. I thought that was a cool thought. Many gospel parallels you can draw from that.

Then he took off on a mind-boggling treatise of outer space. He spoke of how our sun was just an average size specimen. He talked about how our planet’s solar system is one of billions in our galaxy and how our galaxy is one of billions (maybe trillions) in the universe. Further, he said the universe is growing. He said the universe is even growing at an ever-increasing rate. How can your mind wrap around that? He then mentioned that his teacher taught him that there are literally more stars in the heavens than sand of the seashores around the world. Of course the prophets have taught us this unfathomable truth since the beginning of the world (Gen. 22:17).

All of this rhetoric came to a clear head as he brought us back down to earth. With the audiences riveted to his message, he directed us to a picture on the screen. Saturn was the foreground and a small speck, earth, was somewhere in the background. He then observed that “everything and everyone who has ever lived or ever would live is contained on that little dot.” Then the climax: he almost yelled, “I am nothing!”

What poignant words. It was actually a really spiritual experience for me to hear that coming from this man. My mind went directly to the first chapter of Moses. We learn that when Moses was able to see simply all of God’s creations of this earth, Moses commented “Now for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed” (Moses 1:10). Just imagine if we could see all of God’s handiwork. Yet, “no man can behold all my works, except he behold all my glory; and no man can behold all my glory, and afterwards remain in the flesh” (Moses 1:5).

“To be learned is good if [we] hearken unto the counsels of God” (2 Nephi 9:29). Some of the greatest people I know are very well informed with impressive diplomas. But, “O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish” (2 Nephi 9:28).

My three takeaways from all of this: (1) to be learned and informed and exposed to differing views is good if we hearken to the counsels of God, (2) honest seekers of truth naturally pluck pieces of the mosaic of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and (3) boy am I so grateful to know the source of all truth and not have to search tirelessly for truth in the confusing-at-best world of moral relativism.

The Big Apple

I couldn’t live on the East Coast for a year without doing New York City. My friends Chip, Claire, Claire’s friends, and I took a few days of Spring break to blitz “The Big Apple”. Boy, did we blitz. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have inherited the planning gene from my parents so I packed in the absolute amount of activities within the time allotted:

The Chinatown bus, recommended by a good friend, turned out to be a great deal--$30 from Richmond to Manhattan Chinatown. No parking to worry about and the best part was it traveled overnight from about midnight to 6 a.m. so you could sleep on the way. Well, theoretically sleep along the way. I had this very-energetic night owl right behind me talking on the phone in Mandarin until about 3 a.m. J The funny story more than makes up for the lack of sleep though, right?

The cool, fish-filled air greeted us as we stepped off the bus in the middle of sleepy Chinatown. This didn’t seem like New York City at all, but like Asia (so says Chip). It was very interesting. Groggy but eager to have a blast on this new adventure, we trekked southward toward the Financial District. New York really is a melting pot, even in the case of its architecture. As we headed toward Wall Street, I quickly felt a transition from Asia to what reminded me of Berlin with the tall brick structures and well-coiffed trees. Then yet again in a couple of blocks I thought I was in Chicago with the high winds wailing between two giant walls of glass-covered skyscrapers. Then, I finally felt like I was in New York City; it just seemed like the city I had always dreamed up.

We took the Stanton Ferry across the water and waved at the Statue of Liberty. What a special thing! I could just imagine the feeling of the early immigrants (including some of my ancestors) seeing that pillar of hope after a long journey across the Atlantic. Though the ills of an immature market system would befall many of them, their posterity would be much better off in this “sweet land of liberty”.

Wall Street was…just another street to me but seeing the Trump Tower, Standard & Poors building and NYSE was a real treat. The greatest part of the street, however, was seeing Federal Hall National Memorial, which is on the spot where Washington was first sworn into office. I absolutely love visiting stuff like that.

In fact, another major highlight of mine was walking into Fraunces Tavern, the location where Washington bid his beloved troops adieu following the Revolutionary War. Having just read McCullough’s 1776, I was eager to get a better sense of all historical events that occurred in Manhattan.

Wall Street ends at the intersection with Broadway, marking the historic Trinity Church. I didn’t understand why so many people had ash marks on their foreheads until walking into the giant church. Apparently, it was Ash Wednesday.

From the Financial district, we headed to Ground Zero. Though the sight of the twin towers was blocked off and under construction, I couldn’t help but feel the solemn spirit of the area while walking around the sight. Seeing the majestic Freedom Tower about half way erected was very cool. It is going to be a gorgeous building and a powerful statement to the world.

Next, we headed to Little Italy almost on accident. We were hungry and Chip went to Rome on his mission so we had to go, right. Well, among all the bistros and pizzerias we asked a couple of local New Yorkers where we should do lunch. They told us in their priceless New York accent that we needed to try Lumbardi’s. If we could find those guys again, we would pay them for that advice. This restaurant was honestly a major highlight of the trip! Chip and I talked about if almost every hour for the rest of the trip. In fact, we still talk about it. The first pizzeria in America, this place has had time to perfect their product. We both ordered calzones. Man, it was so good I almost cried. The moist yet chewy dough wrapped around perfect mozzarella and ricotta along with spinach and (I think) prosciutto… WOW! It was a slam dunk, a Fourth of July, a Grand Slam, it was magic. J I would honestly go back just for one more dose of that fine eating (see below--post celestial meal).

From there, we walk all the way up to Time Square, taking an hour longer than we anticipated, and met up with Claire. I was overwhelmed with the visual cacophony of flashing lights, colors, and motion. It was amazing though. There’s no where quite like it. Vegas is over the top too but they don’t have TV screens that cover three story buildings.

After weighing our options for a Broadway musical, we decided on Mary Poppins. We figured that was a safe bet. It was happy, innocent and full of the enchanting Disney magic. At the end of the musical when Mary Poppins flies up through the ceiling, we all got a little misty-eyed. A great production! The sets are the best I’ve ever seen. The acting and singing was unreal. I felt so blessed to be able to be there!

From Time Square we visited the New York City Library and just took in the ambiance and architecture of the noble structure. To get the full experience I even skimmed a couple pages of my book I was reading (Man’s Search for Meaning). Claire and her friends suggested we try out a jazz club called Fat Cats so we checked that place out. Underground, dim-lit, pool tables, and jazz music. It was a very memorable evening.

Thursday began with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Incredible! I cannot believe how big that place is. We took an hour guided tour and skimmed through maybe a tenth of the material. You could spend a week there and I’m not joking. Van Goghs, Monets, Rembrandts, and de Goyas surprisingly friendly and flattering portraits were just a small part of the collection. I especially loved the stained glass windows. It amazing what humans have created. The hauntingly beautiful creations of man really are testaments of God. After a stole in Central Park, FAO Schwarz was in order. We of course played the giant piano and stood baffled, jaw to the floor, while looking at the price tag of the $1,000 stuffed giraffes. The trip wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Tiffany’s, the Rockefeller Center or St. Patrick’s Cathedral, so we did all of those in order.

To get out of the torrential rain and Chicago-style winds, we ran to the Time Warner Center and had dinner at the Whole Foods in the lower level. On the way over we walked by the LDS temple almost by accident. What a wonderful peace enveloped Chip and I as we looked up at that beacon. Though much shorter than the surrounding buildings, its light so clearly dwarfs any structure in the city. Ironically, the rough setting of West Side Story is the very location of the temple and the Lincoln Center. In fact, I took a picture of the Met while in "The West Side".

To cap off the day, we got the special treat of watching Romeo & Juliet at The Metropolitan Opera House. Wow, that was amazing, though tragic J I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Below is a picture I took from my seat. The chandeliers simultaneousness ascend and dim to usher in the performance; it's a spectacular venue and a must check box on your NYC bucket list. You can get $20 tickets almost every night if you pick them up a couple hours before the performance! The piece when Romeo and Juliet first connect was phenomenal. Their voices were unbelievable. The only thing we would have changed about the event was our dress. Not anticipating the option of going to a world-famous opera house, we had only packed jeans for the trip.

Our last day was intense. We woke up and did the High Line, Chelsea Market and Washington Square Park by 10 a.m. Chip even played a game of chess with a local at the park. Needless to say, Chip lost J We then stopped by the White Horse Tavern, the inspiration spot for people like Edgar Allen Poe and Bob Dylan. Next was the Corner Bistro where we had some of the biggest burgers of our lives. Great place and not ridiculously priced. The Empire State Building was the last major event of the trip. We had oysters at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station and then headed up to the Bronx, the location of Claire’s car.

What a trip! I think the key takeaways from the trip were these: (1) a clearer perspective of urban life, its benefits and challenges, (2) a deeper appreciation for the eclectic richness of this country (3) man (and woman) can create phenomenal things because they are children of God, and (4) Lombardi’s calzones better be in heaven because they sure remind me of it J

North Carolina--Southern Hospitality

My mom shared with me an impressionable experience she had while visiting my sister, who was living in the South/Midwest at the time:

While at the checkout in WalMart, my mom went through her usual ritual of loading up the bargain merchandise. Then, the cashier asked her something friendly like, “So what brings you to town?” My mom told the woman that she was helping out her daughter, who had been on bed rest for over two months because of pregnancy complications. The woman began to cry. The wet-cheeked cashier kept chatting with my mom for over 15 minutes at the checkout station, crying, laughing, and empathizing with my mom. Now that is a statement.

Though I did not manage to induce tears from a stranger during my visit to North Carolina, I did experience the same genuine care and quality among the people there. From a classmate’s suggestion, my friend and I braved the famous Clyde’s BBQ in Raleigh. I don’t think I’ve ever met kinder people than the employees of that establishment. The food was good but very salty. Whatever lacked in the grub was more than made up by the quality of the people working there. “Yes sir!” with a smile goes a long way I’ve decided. The cashier treated us like superstars when we told her we were coming to a ballroom dance competition. She kept smiling and telling everyone in the diner about it. Not something I’ve ever seen in New England or even out west.

We went to the Museum of Natural History in Raleigh and saw an incredible butterfly exhibit. I know it sounds lame but it was actually quite interesting. You go into a greenhouse and quickly become enveloped in a small indoor paradise complete with gorgeous tropical flowers and these giant, vibrantly-colored butterflies floating and fluttering all around you. We also visited the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, and enjoyed the beautiful campus. The last event of the day was the very elegant North Carolina Museum of Art. I especially enjoyed seeing the famous Rembrandt Peale portrait of George Washington (see below).

Then, when it was time to call it a night I drove to the apartment of a student I had been pared-up with for housing. Tim, just like the people at the diner, treated me like a long lost brother. He instantly offered me everything he could to help make my time there more enjoyable. His roommate, Thomas (who is also a local), offered me his room for the night after speaking to me for about 10 seconds. Who are these people? I was very impressed.

Ironically, the very purpose of going to the Raleigh seemed to be the least impressionable. The dance competition was fantastic though! It was held in the incredible Dorton Arena (above), a very unique structure resembling a giant tent. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. I had a blast at the competition and met some great people there.

Happy Chinese New Year...in VA?

My dear friend and once roommate at BYU, Sheng Lee (Lee), taught so much about China and her people by his example. From Taiwan, Lee came to America to study at BYU-Idaho. He became the only Mormon in his family as he joined the LDS church while in Idaho. I was lucky enough to (randomly) get him as a roommate after he had transferred to BYU Provo.

Lee and I would often stay up talking about the similarities and differences between our native cultures. Often, midsentence he would ask me what a word or phrase meant and then would religiously record my response in his well-thumbed notebook chock full of English phrases, pronunciations, jargon, and slang. He really liked saying “That is Sweet, man!” I don’t know if we were the best examples of the English language. The library was his companion almost every night until 11 p.m. That may not be odd for most dedicated students. But, this was during the summer months, while he wasn’t taking classes. Lee was reviewing material from his past elevated physics courses. Wow! He was easy to laugh, respected women and leaders, honored his priesthood, and could earn the smile of just about anyone he met.

Not surprisingly, many of my Mandarin-speaking friends in Williamsburg have only strengthened my positive view—trenched by Lee—of the Chinese people. Ironically, I’ve become more acquainted with the Chinese people while studying in Virginia than in any other place in my life. Random! I don’t think you can get much farther from China than the east coast. In any case, I’m so glad I’ve been able to meet some great individuals through my school, church, and social events.

One such event was an authentic Chinese New Year party. I’d never been to one before but my buddy and I were invited by a mutual Chinese friend. Red was everywhere. Chinese symbols all around. Sticky rice cakes (so good), cookies, and dried fruits were enjoyed by many. The coolest component of the evening though was making and eating dumplings (see above). I failed miserably at making a good-looking dumpling but mine was still edible ;-) These tasty treats are really easy to make; though, aesthetics may take some time for me to get down (see below).

First, you take a small, circular, flat piece of dough and wet the outside edges with your finger. Then, you place a glob of this ground-up mix of pork, sauce and vegetables on the middle of the dough. Lastly, you fold the dough over almost like a taco and the pinch the edges to seal it shut and make it look good enough to eat. The dumplings are boiled and then devoured. So good! I am a fan of dumplings. I am fan of Chinese New Year. And, I am definitely a fan of Chinese people!

Charter Day

This weekend, I attended the Charter Day ceremony commemorating the 318^th anniversary of the signing of the charter by William III and his wife Mary II. Held in the William & Mary Hall, the formal celebration was very impressive. We started with the Pledge of Allegiance and then heard the school's choir sing the William & Mary Hymn. Parts of the royal charter were read, identifying its original intent to raise up students of high spiritual, academic, and social caliber. Several people were then honored with nickels and one with a New Jersey quarter by exemplifying the characteristics of former students of W&M and Presidents of the United States, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, respectively. All of this while two beautiful, silver maces sit on green velvet in front of the podium to represent (1) the College in general, and (2) the Scottish academies where the school’s first president was schooled.

The key note speaker was Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia. He’s quite a unique man. Cantor got his J.D. from William & Mary years ago and has since pursued his career in politics. He is currently the House Majority Leader—the first W&M graduate, and the first Jew to hold this post.

I was very surprised at how political his speech was. Though I agreed with basically all that he said, his tone and rhetoric seemed inappropriate for the setting. It felt like watching a Tide commercial at a commencement address. But again, I completely agree with his vision for America: small government, accountability, and a laissez-faire economy that inspires entrepreneurship. He pointed out that our fertile land for entrepreneurs is what has made us the greatest nation in the world. Without it, we would not have cars, television, the internet, and the amazing medical treatments available for so many.

This was one of the first speeches I’ve ever heard in person from a politician. It was interesting to be reminded that they are human too. They still jumble words here and there and they get nervous. But what impressed me was how much Rep. Cantor believed in what he was saying. There is an X-factor that you can only get when seeing someone in person; it’s the fire in their eyes, the level of belief in what they are saying. Cantor had it! Standing among many high-profile, left-aisle academics, he had the courage to speak what he felt we needed to hear. I respect him for that.

A few take aways from the event: I’m so honored to be attending W&M, politicians are very human, and Rep. Eric Cantor has the correct vision of the United States of America.

Christmas in Williamsburg

Christmas in Williamsburg is so wonderful. Colonial Williamsburg seems to really light up during the season. Handel’s Messiah is performed at a nearby, colonial church. Dozens of Christmas concerts and choral recitals dot the small town during December. White snow dusts the red brick throughout the old city. In short, it's a one-of-a-kind Christmas season.

I had the pleasure of going to a very unique concert at the Kimball Theatre. Dean Shostak is a world-renowned musician who specializes in 18^th century instruments. He is one of only a hand full of performers who plays the crystal harmonica (see below), which was invented by Benjamin Franklin. The instrument is made up of dozens of crystal bowls with tapered circumferences that are lined-up back to back and spun through the same method as old sewing machines. The music is produced as the musician applies wet fingers to the spinning bowls. The sound is amazing! It’s not like anything I’ve ever heard. He also played hand bells, the hurdy-gurdy, and the world’s only crystal violin (see below). I’ll admit, the crystal harmonica sounds much better than the crystal violin, but the see-through violin was quite a sight to see. The sound was just very stiff and almost metallic sounding. Overall, the show was wonderful and I’m so grateful I got to go.

I went to a beautiful Christmas concert at one of the local churches. The chorus of only 20 or so people sounded like 100. It was incredible! They are a traveling group based in Virginia. Toward the end of the performance they sang one of my favorite choral pieces: Ave Maria. It was the one I was able to sing while in Men’s Chorus at BYU. The version has eight parts and two choral groups. It’s one of the most dynamic and haunting pieces you’ll ever hear. When we performed it, we had 160 or so men singing. They did it just as well with only eight. Wow, what a special time for me. It was like hot chocolate for my ears (pardon the expression).

The culminating event in Williamsburg is Grand Illumination. In the evening, in early December, the entire small town gathers to see one of the largest firework displays. Glowing-hot embers are elevated in metal mesh baskets throughout the area to keep the crowds warm while they wait for the festive display. The show is duplicated exactly and simultaneously in three locations in Colonial Williamsburg. My friends and I chose to be closest to the Governor’s Palace show, which is quite the sight (see above). Each window in the mile long colonial town glows with the quiet candle lights displayed for the season. Each door holds an exquisite wreath made of materials and in the fashion customary of the time period. Some were made of fruits, nuts and leafs. Others were made of antlers, deer fur and even clam shells. People come from all around to see these beautiful wreaths (see below).

The Founding

I think each place on earth holds a spirit, forged through actions of the past. Some places bring us fear, others courage. Some strengthen us, others weaken. Some inspire, and others simply do not. Then there are those special places that seem to command our reverence. They seem to pluck the negative parts of us and paint our souls with rejuvenation.

Of course the temple is such a place. Having been set apart from the world on a particular date, they are holy places. Indeed, these are plots of heaven on earth. I can honestly say that President Hinckley’s claim that we always leave the temple better than when we arrive is true.

Though nothing can truly top the power of the temple, some places seem to clearly take the prize for runner up. The quiet grounds of the birthplace of Joseph Smith have a very special spirit about them. I spent days and days there through various meetings as a missionary. I always felt my spirit recharge after spending time among the maple trees of South Royalton, VT. Every single time.My trip to Israel this past summer exposed me to a myriad of special places. The ancient temple in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Garden Tomb all seemed to inspire, heal, and witness of the beauties of reality. I would never expect to have a similar experience in a place of secular significance. But the night I committed myself to visiting several historical sites in our nation’s capital, I was pleasantly proven wrong.

One evening, while on the same trip in Washington D.C. as the post before this, I took a walk by myself along the Mall. I started by heading toward Capitol Hill, passing all of the museums of the Smithsonian and vowing to scour as many of them as possible before leaving Virginia. The Capitol Building is magnificent! I was practically alone as I walked around the beautiful reflection pool to get a better look at the symbol of our democracy. It was a great experience for me. Fighting the snappy cold of December, I walked briskly back toward the Washington Monument. Wow, up close the obelisk really is massive. It is an engineering feat! Then, I walked around the WWII memorial, which is spectacular at night. The fountains, the delicate lights, and the resolute and simple stars representing casualties of the sacrificed soldiers produce a very powerful experience. And of course President Lincoln’s monument beams majestically behind the memorial. It’s beautiful. God bless America :)

I quickly discovered the truth about the layout of D.C., the key structures creating a cross formation. The Mall, with the Lincoln Memorial on one end and the Capitol Building on the other create one cross section. The White House and the Jefferson Memorial make the second cross section. The two sections cross at the Washington Monument. Symbolically, this country was founded upon the principles of Jesus Christ. I looked over at the Whitehouse and got pretty excited. Then I decided to complete my checklist of the points that make up the cross and I ventured along the Potomac over to the Jefferson Memorial.

This monument quickly became one of my top favorites of D.C. As I walked up the marble steps, through the columns, a solemn feeling washed over me. It sounds crazy, especial being in a monument of just one person, but it was a special experience for me. I’ve always respect Jefferson very much but I didn’t expect the feeling I got. Of course he was a great writer, orator, architect, attorney, and promoter of small government; not to mention he was the drafter of the Declaration and the third President. He was only a man though so why this feeling? I quickly discovered what may be the source of this solemnity.

Several faith-filled quotes from Jefferson jumped out at me from all four directions. The black lettering against the white marble in the structure is a very appropriate stage to ring out his unapologetically firm convictions about our Maker and about right and wrong. “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?” That’s the beginning of just one panel. Think if everyone in our country were to visit this monument. Jefferson is just one of the Founders, but he is one of my favorites. We call them the Founders for a reason. When anyone tries to bend, dice, and splice the foundation of our nation, it bleeds. It just makes you want to uphold the Constitution any way I can.

My night walk in D.C. deeply touched me, especially Jefferson’s monument. I walked home that night inspired, uplifted, and closer to my country and to my Savior. I hope everyone has a similar chance to walk along the cross and be reminded of the Great Founder of our nation, Jesus Christ.

CPA Trek to D.C.

Call me naive but after taking my trip to D.C. I am optimistic about our country. My MAcc program took us to Washington D.C. for the week to visit several regulatory bodies. Wow, what a week! We stayed at the Harrington Hotel, just a block from the IRS, Justice Department, FBI, and the Mall in general. Fantastic location…less than stellar hotel--we weren’t even able to bring our computers for fear or getting them stolen. I would totally stay there as a guy but I would never take a family there.

We first visited the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). In the very room where the five Commissioners meet, we met and spoke with several members of the organization. My favorite speaker was Jason Flemmons who is in the Enforcement Function (Forensics) with the SEC; basically, he catches the fraudsters and brings them to justice. I was very encouraged by the sophistication of the forensic accountants at the Capital.

Then we had a (literally) once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sit in the boardroom for the Board of Governors in the Federal Reserve. This is the room that Ben Bernanke and the rest of the Board meet and dictate the monetary policy for our country, directly or indirectly affecting the entire world. This room is arguably the most powerful room (in a secular sense) on earth. We had a former professor at William & Mary, who works at the Fed, present to us in the room. Right before the presentation, I actually saw Bernanke walk by in the hallway. Many people don’t like him right now. That must be why there is so much security getting into the building—it took us over an hour to get through the doors and we were the only people visiting. Being in that room was an experience I’ll never forget as a business geek. Wow! Since we couldn't take any pictures inside, below is a photo of it with no other than the Bernanke himself.

One of the takeaways from my visit to the Fed was the realization that we are in the most capable hands when it comes to monetary policy. The lowly employee, Seth Carpenter, who presented to us is one of over 200 PHD economists who work there. Carpenter is a Princeton-bred genius who knows what he is talking about. Hearing him speak and enjoying his grasp on the economy was enriching and faith-building. Again, he is just “one of the guys” at the Fed. My point is, I feel that the Board of Governors are doing the best they know how to fix our economy. I truly feel that way. I didn’t before this trip. I may not agree with this “monetary easing”, but neither I nor 99 percent of the people who bicker about the economy really can offer any better solution to the problem.

On the other hand, many informed individuals acknowledge that no one person or group of people are to blame for the Great Recession we are trying to climb out of. The root of the economic uppercut was lack of self regulation on all levels. It wasn’t just the Congress' pressure on banks to ease up on loan applicants, it wasn’t just the greedy financial markets or those who selfishly insured them. It was everyone combined. I could go on about this in a whole separate post, but I’ll spare you the bore this time.

The next day we got to meet with leaders from the Government Accountancy Office (GAO). I know that sounds like something you’d read about to cure insomnia but hearing them was so fascinating! These are the auditors for the Federal government. They make sure D.C. is running an honest ship. Jeanette Franzel, Managing Director of Financial Management and Assurance, was very impressive. She boosted my confidence in the future economics of our country by her competence and vision. With bailouts in many industries (auto, banking) and overhauls in others (healthcare and education), many especially including me are worried the direction our country is going. Is there any check on our government? Are this major transactions honest? Well, for four years, the GAO didn’t give the IRS or the SEC an unqualified opinion, and the Department of Defense isn’t even auditable. But, she explained that each audited agency in the government has now received an unqualified opinion. She regularly meets with agencies to hold them accountable for budgets. Her insights, determination, and clear independence bring me great confidence in our future. And she brought to light the fact that the government is not only taking its stake out of the banking and auto industry (and soon AIG), it has made a multi-billion dollar return on our tax dollars. Well, they did something right J

We aren't a perfect country but there is great hope in the future of our nation. We need to pray for and actively seek out good, honest leaders. We need to be self regulated and encourage others to do the same. Can we forget God's sweet assurance in his repeated words: "inasmuch as ye keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land." Has He ever broken His promises?

A Taste of Williamsburg!

One Saturday, I decided to take a drive down the Colonial Parkway. This road has quickly become my designated "ponder road". It is one of those roads that help you really relax, clear your mind, and reconnect with the beauties of reality. The road up Provo Canyon is my equivalent in Utah and Foothill Road in Ventura is my favorite in California. Look at how beautiful our country is:

God truly is the Great Artist. How can you see this world and not have your faith strengthened?

Back In The Field

My time as a missionary in New England was paramount in my life. Serving my Savior every moment, representing Him, was the most special, invigorating, and humbling experience of my life. I literally gave my mission all of my heart. Oh, what a special time in my life! Now I also absolutely loved my time at Brigham Young University. I wouldn’t change my time there for the world.

Even so, I am amazed to find that I’m growing in ways never thought possible by being back in the mission field. A year ago I would have laughed at anyone who told me I would be in Williamsburg, Virginia right now. But around Thanksgiving 2009, I felt like I should apply to the College of William & Mary, not even knowing which state the school resides in. To my continual amazement, I find a reason almost daily of why I am supposed to be here.

One major blessing of being here is the opportunities for missionary work. We’ve had a baptism in our little branch of 30 or 40 every few weeks. It’s amazing! I want to share the story of just one of them.

Walter Finley is one of the sweetest young men I know. He has a condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a chronic illness that continuously reduces his muscle power, lending him helpless without his electronic wheelchair. As illustrated in the picture below, he never ceases to smile. He comes from a rough home background, he has limitations in his future options, and he will never live a normal life on this earth. Yet, he smiles. He smiles every time I see him. What a powerful lesson.

The first night I met Walter, I was at a branch dance. A member of our congregation had brought Walter. I was so intrigued by his beaming smile juxtaposed to his virtually-immobile body. I gave him a quick tour of our building, something I used to absolutely love to do as a full-time missionary. The Spirit was so strong as we looked at and talked about various pictures on the walls. He gave me some great insights as we viewed the paintings.

While inside the dance, I watched as sweet young women would in turn walk up to Walter during the beginning of each slow song, rest their hand on his shoulder, grab his left hand to hold it up and dance with him. Watching that does something to you. It almost brings me to tears just thinking about it.

In the following weeks, Walter quickly felt like he was a part of something. He felt loved. He felt his true self worth. Most importantly, he felt the Spirit as he read from the Book of Mormon, attended church, and prayed. To our delight, he chose to be baptized!

It took three of us to baptize Walter. I'll never forget the experience of watching him come up out of the water! I am so blessed to know Walter.

Last Sunday he was able to pass the sacrament. Barely able to lift up his hand to grasp the tray, Walter reverently guided his chair through his assignment and performed his duty with great dignity. I was deeply touched by this special moment. I believe Walter has a special knowledge of what the sacrament means. He has great faith! We can all learn much from our brother Walter Finley.