BYU vs Utah Rivalry

After moving to Utah, one of the first things my dad did was purchase season tickets to the BYU football games. In doing so, my family has been to almost every home game for the past few years. My family always looks forward to the rivalry game against Utah and are especially enthused when the Holy War happens to be at Lavell Edwards Stadium. As a student now, and as a member of the BYU Drumline, I have been fortunate enough to be at every home game this year, and was able to be at the rivalry game this past weekend.
Even before the band got into the stadium, I could tell it was going to be an intense game. Many passionate Ute fans made there way into the stadium at about the same time as the band, and a few expressed their hatred towards us by yelling really obnoxious things. I really wanted to throw my stick at one Ute fan with a red mo-hawk, but was able to contain my anger.
The game proved to be a thriller as passionate fans from both sides cheered extremely loud when their team made a good play. I will always remember the sight of Andrew George running towards me and into the end-zone, scoring the game-winning touchdown in overtime...followed by thousands of students rushing the field. The only people left in the stands were practically the band, and the older fans that would have had a hard time jumping onto the field. It was a night I will always remember: BYU 26-Utah 23.

Blessings Through a Trial

There I sat in the basement of our Arizona home on a typical warm evening. I was camped on the couch in front of the TV after another long day at school. I felt relaxed and my mind was blank, until I heard my father yell something from upstairs.

“Family meeting in five minutes,” yelled my dad.

“Why? Family night was yesterday,” I thought.

What could this urgent family meeting possibly be about? Did my parents plan a fun family vacation for this summer? Or was the news not so good? I tried to spend as much of the five minutes still on the couch, but I was overcome with curiosity and could not relax anymore. After those five minutes had passed, I slowly made my way up the stairs, as I tried to pinpoint what the subject of the meeting would be. I arrived at the top of the stairs to find the rest of my family assembled in the living room.

“We were waiting for you,” my younger sister said in a sarcastic tone. I took my place on our leather couch as my father got up to address our family.

“As you guys know, we have been talking for awhile about possibly moving to Utah.”

“Is he serious?” I thought. That idea had been put to rest for awhile. The idea had been brought up before, but I did not think we would actually move to Utah.

My father continued, “Both of your grandparents have not been doing very well health wise, and they may not be on the earth for too much longer. I have prayed many times about what we should do, and I really feel moving closer to family would be the right thing to do.”

I looked around to find my mother in tears and began to ponder to myself.

He really expects us to just get up and leave? Arizona had been our home for the past 12 years! I was almost 16 years old and was nearing the end of my sophomore year in high school. I had many good friends and had built great relationships with many of them over the years. We were in a fantastic ward, and I really did not want anything to change.

As the day of our departure drew nearer, my attitude seemed to change. Maybe moving wouldn’t be so bad? The idea of having to make new friends and attending a different high school did not excite me, but hopefully it wouldn’t be too difficult. The school year ended, the summer had arrived, and I made my final goodbyes to my friends in Arizona.

The morning of June 21, 2007 came too soon as we finished loading the moving truck and prepared to leave for good. I will always remember when my family knelt in prayer for one last time in the living room of our Arizona home. My parents were both in tears, but the Spirit was there, and that is really when it came to me that moving closer to family was the right thing to do. We arrived at our new home late that night and my new life in Utah had begun.

That summer seemed to go by faster than a gazelle being chased by a hungry bear. School was here once again, and I still had not made very many friends. I was reminded of my freshman year as I aimlessly walked through the halls trying to find my classes. I hated the feelings of loneliness and emptiness I felt in each class as I sat with nobody to talk to. It was a smaller school and it seemed like everyone else knew each other. It felt like everyone was watching me as I wandered through the lunchroom trying to find a place to sit and eat my lunch. Thankfully, the feelings of uneasiness did not last long after I was able to find a job as a referee and umpire for youth sports. After my first day on the job, one my fellow employees, who was female and around 20 years old, approached me.

“Can I have your number?” she asked.

I gave her a blank stare and thought, “I think you are a little old for me?” She quickly realized what I was thinking and said, "Oh it’s not for me, it’s for my sister!” We both shared a laugh, and I ended up hanging out with her sister that night. She has become one of my best friends, and it’s a friendship I will cherish forever. As the weeks passed by, I made more and more friends and became more comfortable with each day of school.

While finding friends was important to me, spending time with family was the main reason my family moved to Utah. While living in Arizona, we visited my grandparents only two or three times a year. Now that Rexburg, Idaho is only three hours away (rather than fifteen), we have been able to visit them a lot more. I love the smell of my grandma’s homemade cookies and the wonderful taste of her famous French toast. I also look forward to games of soccer, baseball, or football in the back yard with my cousins. Grandma’s house is not all fun and games though; living on a farm is hard work. Every morning we get up early, load bales of hay onto the back of my grandpa’s red truck, and then drive though the muddy roads and out to the pastures to feed the cows. The cold wind in the early morning, along with the smell of fresh cow pies was never my favorite smell, but working with my grandpa was always enjoyable. Working on the farm really has brought our family closer together. Our family has grown a lot closer over the past few years through the simple chores that we have completed on my grandpa’s farm.

Unfortunately, cancer has taken the lives of all my grandparents since my family moved to Utah. Grandma and grandpa’s house will never be the same, but what a blessing it was to visit them a lot more over the past few years.

Personal Narrative

I have decided to base my personal narrative on the change I experienced through moving to Utah halfway through high school. At first I really didn't like the idea of the move, but now looking back, it was for the better. The message I will portray is that although change can be scary and nerve-wracking, it also can be good and bless your life. Now, if I can just motivate myself to actually start writing the paper...

Highlight of the Semester

Today Andrew, Steve, and I went to the Wilkinson Center after biology to "study chemistry." We sat down at a table with some cute girls, but after about ten minutes they left. We were somewhat disappointed, but that quickly changed. To my surprise, Harvey Unga came and asked if he could sit with us! Of course we said yes, and he sat down and to eat his lunch. Then we had that moment that everyone has when they see someone of high status. Is that really Harvey Unga? Soon after, two more members of the football team came and sat down with him and ate their lunch. Harvey said he was still hungry, so Andrew recommended Taco Bell and that is how the conversation got started. We talked about where we were from, what music we like, and then finally got on the topic of football. We chatted with him for around ten minutes, and that is ten minutes of my life I will never forget.

A Blessing in Disguise

Since moving up here to Utah in the Summer of 2007, my father has been searching for a steady job to support our family. He had a very good job in Arizona, and had faith that even in this time of economic hardship, he would be able to find a job. He did have a job for awhile at the Flying J offices in Ogden, UT, but the business filed bankruptcy and he was released. It was around that time that my Grandma on my mother's side became ill and moved in with our family so we could take care of her. She lived with us for around a year and because my father did not have a job, he was able to help my mother take care of her at home.

This past summer, my mother was called as Primary President in our ward, and was often in meetings on Sundays and a couple times during the week. However, my grandma was still cared for by my father who was still at home looking for a job. In September, my father had an interview with a big financial company. The interview went well and he was called back for interview, after interview, after interview. He was still able to take care of my grandmother though, because he still had not been offered the job. My grandma passed away this last October, and literally the day after she passed away, my father received a call from the company and was awarded the job. He had been in for around 12 interviews which is very abnormal, but in the meantime was able to look after my grandmother until she passed away.

I know the Lord hears and answers our prayers. Our family has been praying that my father would find a job for over a year, and even though it took awhile, I know the answer to our prayers was postponed so my grandma could be cared for.

Moving to Utah- A Testimony Builder

I have lived in Arizona for most of my life and really felt comfortable there. Having lived there for 12 years, I had many friends, but we were nowhere near extended family. All of my family members live in northern Utah and southern Idaho. In 2007, my father had been praying to decide if we should move closer to family or stay in Arizona. My father had a successful career, was in a management position, and we were in a great ward and had many friends. However, the health of my grandparents had started to decline. So, in the summer of 2007 we moved up to Willard, UT to be closer to our extended family.

It was hard for me transitioning halfway through high school, but I knew that being near family was important. I was able to see my grandparents and cousins a lot more in the past few years. In 2008, both of my grandparents on my father's side passed away due to cancer, and this last October, my only grandparent left on my mother's side passed away due to cancer as well.

I am grateful that my father was able to receive revelation for our family and for his counsel in my life. It was the right thing for my family to move up here to Utah. I was able to see my grandparent a lot before they died and now looking back I wish we could have moved here sooner in order to spend even more time with them. I am so grateful for families and I know that through God's plan, I will be able to see my grandparents again.