The summer I was 20 I lived with my grandparents, Mima and Granddaddy. Granddaddy passed away a few days ago and I was thinking back on my time with them -- they both showed me incredible patience. I also have one story that comes to mind...
So that summer was when Granddaddy had a car he preferred to drive around, this one:
what a GEM
It was always a thrill to go careening down neighborhood streets in that car vehicle, which had a top mph of I think 25. (One time we even drove it on Center Street (speed limit 40) which was extra exciting, but it was important that we buy that ice cream.*)
One time I asked why he preferred this car vehicle, and he responded "I want to leave my descendants an earth to live on."
I appreciated that.
[*the summer I lived with them they were very careful to always have ice cream for me to eat. I appreciated that too.]
I've forgotten for a long time to post this video. It's just hard to remember! But here it is. I look really nice so this is as good a time as any to quit while I'm ahead. 50's a nice round number anyway.
In Ezekiel 33:10-16, the Lord warns that we're not guaranteed heaven just if our righteous acts outnumber our wicked ones:
10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
In good news, if we end up righteous after having some wicked moments, that's good!
Here's a quote by a General Authority on the matter:
The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become” (“The Challenge to Become,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 32).
Both of these videos were filmed before Christmas, if you're wondering how I'm doing. Also I apologize for the phone shakiness on the second half (but I do not apologize for the double chins -- I accept my life).
Yesterday was J.R.R. Tolkien's birthday! To celebrate I got together with my little Tolkien book club and we watched all the special features about him and how he came to write Lord of the Rings. It was so fascinating to see how his education and interests synergized to create the mythology of Middle Earth, and how his life experiences prepared him to write the story. A story of hope beyond guarantees.
(The only time for despair is when the outcome is 100% certain. We never know for sure how things will turn out -- there is always hope.)
It reminded me of this very nice BYU devotional that was given last month. (Last year, whatever.) I actually recommend reading or listening to the whole thing, but here's a nice paragraph.
The Lord of the Rings, written by J. R. R. Tolkien, is another fantasy classic that tells of a quest to destroy the powerful and evil One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. It too seems to be about creatures and places that never existed. And yet what has made it the most popular book in the twentieth century, second only to the Bible, is not its fantasy but its realism. It is not just about brave hobbits fighting the armies of Mordor but about the universal heroism of all of us—seemingly little people—who must fight against the evil of our own day in whatever way we can, calling on an inner strength we didn’t know we had as we do our part in the great struggle that is always going on between ultimate good and ultimate evil.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time given us.
Happy New Year! Right now I'm uploading a 2015 book recap for my vlog. It's taking forever -- not sure if it's the phone or the internet at home (both unusual quantities for my videos). So I have plenty of time to write a blog post about books too.
Of the ~150 books I checked out this year, I can single out ~30 that I really enjoyed and recommend. Man am I ever grateful I learned how to be picky and not force myself to finish every single book I try.
I am pretty sure I filmed myself liking more than 30 books. And I am kind of regretting not mentioning Bone Gap in my video. Oh well. I guess it's not the be-all end-all 2015 recap. You can also just watch all my vlogs to give you a good sense of the books I liked.
But here's a list. Lists are fun.
In the category of ongoing/finished series that I have enjoyed this year are the following:
The Glamourist Histories by Mary Robinette Kowal -- complete (I haven't completed it but the series is complete). First book is Shades of Milk and Honey
The Paper Magician Series by Charlie N. Holmberg -- complete
Finishing School by Gail Carriger -- complete (I have the final book on hold)
Tales of Arilland by Alethea Kontis -- complete (? I think). The first book is Enchanted (and that's the best one)
The Otherworld Series by Skylar Dorset -- complete. The first book is The Girl Who Never Was
Duplexity by Amy K. Nichols -- complete (I have the final book checked out). The first book is Now that You're Here
Tyme Series by Megan Morrison -- just starting. The first book is Grounded
The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey -- just starting.
The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows -- just starting
The Gold Seer Trilogy by Rae Carson -- just starting. First book "Walk on Earth a Stranger"
The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff -- just starting
The Starbound Trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner -- complete (I have the final book on hold). First book is 'These Broken Stars"
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer -- complete.
Elemental Blessings by Sharon Shinn -- complete? First book is Troubled Waters
Haha that's not a ton of books or anything. And I'm not even done.
Here's a list of fairytale adaptations I read this year and also other books by the same author that are not necessarily in a series (how's that for a specific list):
Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay. Also the author of Of Beast and Beauty which I really liked when I read it in 201...4. Nope, 2013.
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge. Also Crimson Bound! I read them both this year
Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis. I have Spinning Starlight checked out right now and I'm excited
Here's a list of other books I really liked. They're either fairytale adaptations or have heavy elements of fairy and folk tale. I know who I am:
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Valiant by Sarah McGuire
Illusionarium by Heather Dixon (actually this one is not an adaptation as far as I can tell -- it wins)
Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (actually this is the most original -- but it didn't come out this year either, so...)
Hey my video is finished uploading! Here it is! If you're wondering why it's worth watching when I've already listed everything right here for you I have two compelling reasons:
My face
I discuss my reading resolution for 2016! Don't you want to know what it is?
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