natalie update

Well, I worked on a little video the other day. It's a pretty simple on about a girl named Natalie that was diagnosed with Juvenal Onset Diabetes. I'm pretty sure I've written about her in the past.

Well, I just checked online to see how the donations for the Step for the Cure was going. Let's just say that they are well above 100% of their goal.

It makes me really happy to see that there are still people in the world that can take a need of someone and take the time to donate, contribute and even in a small way, take the time to make a difference in someone's life. From all the pictures that I got from Devany (mom), I can tell that this girl is adorable. She seems to be so energetic and life-loving. What a neat thing for me to take part in.

Tonight I made some new friends. They are friends of friends who are now just friends. But as we got ready for bed, which as you can tell, I'm not being very good about being in seeing as it just passed 5:00 am as I sit here Facebook stalking and typing away, we discussed our favorite passages of scripture. I pulled out a scripture that is so dear to my heart, that I don't often share it... and since I only have 2 readers, I thought I would share with you what insight I get from a simple and overtly overlooked one.

And thus the Lord caused stones to shine in darkness, to give light unto men, women, and children, that they might not cross the great waters in darkness.

Now, the first time that I share this scripture with others, they read it, and stop, dazed and confused. So let's do the back story:

Mahonri Moriancumer (Commonly referred to in the scriptures as the 'brother of Jared') had a dilemma. He was commanded of the Lord to build a ship. One unlike ANYTHING anyone of the time had seen. It was to be built for a long journey across the ocean and thus had to be windowless and air tight. But with this comes a lack of light. So BoJ tells the Lord that he sees a problem, and the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, doesn't fix the problem, but rather asks BoJ what to do. He quickly devises a plan and tells the Lord:

I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones...

Here's what's so cool. He does it. With His finger, he touches the stones and they glow. It totally works! God didn't solve BoJ's problem with some light from the heavens to come down and sit in the middle of the ship. No. First he let BoJ figure out a good plan in which he used other stones. God being the Father of all wisdom and knowledge, prepared them so that they would be the source of light unto the people.

God uses people to bring His light into the world of darkness. He let's us find the light from those who are around us. Strength from our family or friends. Kindness from a stranger. Help from a leader. Love from God through a fellow man.

So I ask you this: What are your stones? What brings you strength? What has God put in your life that truly brings peace and God's love? Think about it for a moment. You can come back to reading in just a moment.

[Intermission]

Now, there is only one more thing that I leave you with. A question so vital to our own happiness. One that is a thousand times more important than the ones previously stated...

Are YOU a stone in someone else's life?

I hope that in this small gesture of creating a simple movie for a cause that would have otherwise just passed me by, that I have been a source of light, if only for a moment, to this wonderful family. I pray that I have helped someone feel the love of God, and the life changing light and warmth it brings. God is in the details, and we are the details.

merry christmas to all and to all a good night

What more can I say...

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

May the Light of God purify your hearts in brilliant stillness,
His Song feed an innermost hunger;
A gospel of peace, of love being true charity.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

famous

That's right readers. Mojo is famous. I was in a deseret new article about Guitar Hero. Lucy had written an article about how popular it was, but it never got published because it was the same time President Hinkley died. I thought that it was okay that they focused on him and his amazing life rather than Guitar Hero. Well, the article doesn't really talk about me because someone wrote a new article, but my photo was on it. AH YEAH!



That was an interesting thing to wake up to this morning. Ben (in the middle) text me to tell me. Well, now that THAT is out of the way, off to the good stuff.

I've been thinking a lot about the song Little Drummer Boy. I heard it sung by Patty Loveless, and it really gets to me:

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

I think that the reason I like this song so much is that I feel that I am a little drummer boy. I have nothing good enough to give to a King, none the less the King of Kings, the Great I Am. So all I can give Him is myself. Christmas rocks. I'm so blessed to have a knowledge of who I am and where I come from. And most importantly, what my potential is.

where's my wallet?

My project group got together to make a video of our MOD. It turned out pretty well, although I think we're going to add some other stuff in the video to show off all the cool stuff we added...



Well, I got home and met Grant and Eric for dinner. After eating and talking for a while, I realized I didn't have my wallet. Here's the dilemma:

1. Um, hello. It's my wallet. Credit cards, debit cards, (I don't keep cash) and Drivers license.
2. The only place I could have left it would be in the computer lab
3. I need to scan my University ID to get in
3.1. My ID is in my wallet.
4. The semester ended today, so noone is in the lab.

I know. Good times.

Well, I rushed over there and ran to the computer lab from the parking lot. I frantically knocked on the door, and... SOMEONE OPENED IT FOR ME!

There it was. Sitting at the monitor I had been killing zombies on (yes, Left4Dead again. I'm an addict.) next to my work keys. Something that would have caused problems tomorrow when I have to go into work.

You know, I'm thankful that there is a goodness in people. Even just answering the door to a computer lab where someone is exploding with anxiety on the other side. And I also am glad that God is looking out for me by prompting me to look for my wallet. I must be doing SOMETHING right.

cafe rio

What's that you say? Yes, it is I. Mojo. I know, I know, I've joined the Blogging community. I've been reading other people's blogs for long enough, that I thought it was time.

I don't know what I want to write about. I might as well write about me. I mean, I am totally awesome. It just seems like the most sane thing to do.

One of the ideas that I had for a blog was just writing things that make me happy and/or what I've been grateful for that day, thus begins the story of Cafe Rio.

I spent the entire day today in the computer lab (yes quad-core, 4Ghz, 4GB of RAM computers DO make me happy, but alas, the story evades the topic nearly completely). I've been working on my final project with my team of 5. We're making a Mod (modification) to the Halflife 2 multiplayer game. It's dodgeball. Yes, including a map (playing area) that looks like an elentary school gym, with pullout bleachers on the side. Awesome.

It's been pretty fun so far. We went to Cafe Rio for a break today and I got to talking with one of the guys I'm working with. He told us that he was going to go the BYU, but his bishop (I was surprised he was even LDS) wouldn't sign his ecclesiastical endorsement. Jarred back into shock. We asked him why, and he responded, "Oh, because I didn't have a testimony." Quite actually, a funny response.

I'm glad that I've got God in my life. I'm not a perfect guy, but you know, I'm gratful for what I have. I'm glad that the people around me are (almost) as freakishly awesome as I am. And as much as I know I live in "The Bubble," (Those who have been to Utah know what I'm talking about) I'm glad that I've got people around me holding me up.