No Regrets.

So I originally started typing this blog update and just wanted to talk about some fun things that we did during this past conference weekend, but then my thoughts turned to something different. So I figured I would write them down. Here it goes.

I was thinking about how much things can change. Initially I was just going to write down that I was happy that Ryan now works a little earlier shift because I can see him at a reasonable hour when he gets home because his shift is now 1:00pm-9:30pm which I am grateful for. But then a random thought entered into my mind of April 18, 2008 and how this year will be the 2 year mark of one of my closest friends being killed in a car crash.

Now, I don't talk about this often, and I rarely try to talk about emotional things that have happened in my life, but I feel like I should write it down. Its strange because I have a really horrible memory, but I can remember that day like it was yesterday. I remember being at work and getting a call from his brother, and having him tell me that Boris was killed early that morning by a drunk driver. I've never had someone so close to me pass away and so suddenly.

I couldn't stop crying and I remember sitting in the parking lot at work thinking to myself, "Heavenly Father, why did you have to take him?" It was so hard for me to understand that things like that can happen so quickly and without any warning. And of course we all think that it can never happen to us. He was killed about 2am, and I had last talked to him at 1am, just an hour before, which made it harder for me to try and grasp the fact that he was gone.

Me and Boris

Well to make a very long story short, I flew down to California that day and was able to spend time with friends and family during a very difficult time. The reason I bring up all of that is because when things like that happen to you, it changes your life completely. You can choose to hate the world and mope, or try to keep going, knowing that things happen for a reason. There were many things that happened during that time that if Boris hadn't passed away, I would not be where I am today.

One specific thing that I remember was spending some time with my friend George while I was down in California. We were alone at a park and I felt impressed to ask him a weird question.

"Why aren't you mormon?" (haha I know, sounds really ballsy and it's not something you can say to just anyone)

Anyway...

George was amazed that I had asked that and said, "Uh, cuz I cuss?"

I told him that that was a bad reason and he came up with one or two more bad reasons, such as, "I work on Sundays?".

That same day I took him to my brothers for FHE and he really enjoyed himself.

I could make this story really long, but George and I talked about the church a little more while I was down there and I told my friends Bethany and Max that, "They have to finish George, I got him started, you do the rest, and that I'll be down for his baptism." haha I guess that sounded a little cocky right?

Me and George (George trying to give his "serious" face)

Well, George did get baptized later that year and I am so glad that I opened my mouth when I could have just been depressed and not cared to listen to the spirit. And I'm so happy to say that, George is now engaged to a wonderful woman and they will be married in the Salt Lake Temple this July, and his posterity will be changed forever.

Now of course, I'm not trying to take credit for his conversion, he had been exposed to discussions about Mormonism during our friend Max's conversion, but we never focused on George until then. And I guess in my mind, that some horrible things can happen in life, but they can lead to some amazing things, such as bringing others into the gospel.

I believe with every fiber of my being that "Every member is a missionary" and I just wish that we could all have the strength to be brave enough to open our mouths. Now, I'm not perfect, and I don't claim to be, and I'm not trying to preach anything. But I have never felt more joy in my life then when my closest friends have been baptized into this gospel.

So I guess, I titled this post, "No regrets" because when I'm older and when I think back on my life, I don't want to regret not talking to someone about the gospel just because I was scared to open my mouth.