Brady's Blog

I survived finals!!! Not only did I survive but I also succeeded. None of the grades dropped and one went up a little bit. That means that I end with 3 A's and 2 A-'s. 3.875 GPA. I love it. Right after finals got over with, the apartment was cleaned out and everybody started leaving their separate ways to go home. It was a very surreal time. I finally left and began what is going to be my life for the next four months. Yep, I don't go back until April. So now I work. That's basically all I do. It is a big change to go from a place that has all of your friends and something to do every night to a place where nothing is really happening. That is kinda my fault because I don't really want to do much. What I really want is to be with my friends again. I miss them all so much but I am glad that they are all happy and with their families. Hey, and I get to be with my family too. That's a good thing. We had a lot of fun over Christmas and it was great...

This past week has been something else, I'll tell you what. But in the end it has ended up being a good week, although the end result of this week will not be entirely realized until the end of this next week. The reason being that this past week was dead week and this coming week is finals week, one of the most dreaded weeks in the life of a college student. To say that I have studied for these finals more than any other finals I've ever taken is an understatement. For some reason, it has come more easy to study this semester than at any other time in my life. This week, however, I discovered the lost land of the library, with some help of good friends of course. What a great place to study. I could focus but still have my friends around me, have mini conversations but still be very productive, it felt pretty dang good. This week however, is going to be the make or break week. Monday: Middle East, Tuesday: Psychology, Wednesday: Math, Thursday:Science. each test havi...

It has been a couple of weeks since I have posted and what an eventful few weeks it has been. My life is definitely changing but that is a good thing. Within the past few weeks, I got to return to my home to see my family over Thanksgiving. I love my family, they mean the world to me and I am thankful for all of the support that they give me. While at home, I was able to learn a few things about my self from my family, my friends (via text), and through the scriptures. the thanksgiving holiday really helped me remember those things that I am taking for granted and what I need to do to ensure that I don't do that again. Upon reuniting with all of my friends back at school, I was overcome with gratitude for all of the things that they have done for me. That lasted for a few days and along with a couple of visits to the temple, I became aware of many blessings that God has given me. My spirits are high. My spirituality is high and I know that it is because the Lord cares abou...

Over the past couple of weeks the topic of friendship is something that I have been thinking a lot about. What exactly it is and who is considered a friend. I have learned a lot through my pondering. In my psychology homework I stumbled upon a Japanese word that I think comes very close to a definition of friendship. The word is amae . The translation is: "the pleasant feeling of depending on someone else" or "the feeling of comfort in another person's acceptance." This may be different for different people but I believe that this adequately describes not only the question of what friendship is but also who true friends are. Family members can be friends. Over the past few weeks, I have been able to have correspondence with many, but unfortunately not all, of my friends whether it be a small sentence on facebook or a conversation via phone or otherwise. I am so grateful for my friends. They do give me that comforting feeling that I feel is needed for ...

This past week has been a little more eye opening. I guess the big thing is all about my grades. Throughout the semester, prior to this week, I have somehow kept my averages in all of my classes above a 90%. I am amazed because usually my work ethic is below average. I am proud to say that this semester has been different. I have done all of my homework on time. Now to this past week. I have still completed all of my assignments on time but a few of my grades have taken a hit. In my science class, I found out that an assignment that we do on a weekly basis was not receiving any points for med, in fact, I was getting zeros in that category. Upon talking with the teacher, I found out that I turned them in to the wrong place and that he could give me partial credit but not full credit. After multiple conversations, emails, and a little note of displeasure via our learning journals, I have managed to get the grade from a D+ at the beginning of the week to a solid B. Much better ...

It is now approaching the middle of the semester and school is totally in full swing. I have decided that I am going to be a climber. That is, so that I can climb out of the piles and piles of homework and study guides that are burying me. The good thing is that after the first round of testing I still have straight A's. It's a miracle seeing that before grading curves, I didn't get an A on any of the tests. After the curves, only one of the tests was an A but all of my grades are still 90% or higher. I am super excited about that. This past week, the cards have been dealt in my favor with some great things happening. Kinda a good change considering I still don't have a job and I am almost always busy doing something whether it is clubs, homework, or friends. I love college life though. It is a ride that I never want to get off. Hidden under the piles and piles of homework is a very happy man thinking, maybe I don't want to be a climber after all and just...

Yesterday, i took my first exam here at BYU-Idaho. I went into it a little nervous but only because it was the first test. It was math. Easy math. The first few chapters. As I started the test, I felt pretty confident, as I ended the test, I felt confident, as I left the testing center, I felt confident. I thought that i would get like a 96% if not a perfect score. I opened up my grade book this morning to check my score. 84%. I was so disappointed. I thought that I did so good but i guess in reality, I missed four problems. I don't know which ones but I would be interested to find out. Now is the time to buckle down and study harder so that I can do better. My overall grade in that class is now tetering on the edge of the A-B line. Well, I better go study.

Well, I've made it!!! I am in college. In fact, I have been here for about 3 weeks now. Three weeks and I am just barely getting the opportunity to post. If that doesn't tell you how busy I have been maybe the mounds of homework, collage of extracurriculars, and the fact that I still cannot find a job will give you a general idea. I am really loving it here though. I have found some of the greatest friends. They make my day everyday (usually through the laughter). The classes I am taking have their challenges. Mainly general courses for now but they are fun. Math and science are still the same as I remember them, my Religion class is just adding to the foundation I have received over the past two years. My International Foundations class about the Middle East is just starting classroom time but seems to be interesting, especially considering that I love geography and cultures. My favorite class at the moment, however, is my Psychology class. (Thank goodness since...

So, now that I am getting back into the swing of home life, I am preparing for even more changes. i am going to college!!! I don't really know how to feel about it right now but I will soon find out. I move over Labor Day and begin classes later that week. This truly is a time of transition where habits are formed and molded. Who knows what the future holds?? I don't but with the right preparation, there is nothing to worry about. The only question: Will it be a smooth transition, or a bumpy one?? Stay tuned to find out.

It has almost been a week now since returning home. My mission was the greatest time of my life. So many experiences that I would not trade for anything. I have learned so many life skills that I am hoping that I can take with me as go move forward in life. Next on my agenda is college, family, and career, each holding challenges that I will have to face to achieve those things that will boost me to where I want to be. Wish me luck.

Elder Parkin's time as a missionary is almost up. His parents received a letter in the mail with the date and time of his arrival home. He will be flying into the Pocatello Airport on July 13 at 5:51 p.m. He is also scheduled to speak July 25th at 1:00 p.m. in his home ward (Lakeview Church.)

Elder Parkin would like to announce that he will be coming home on JULY 13, 2010! Other bits of info you might want to know: * They set two baptism dates with kids on Feb 27th * The rain, wind and tornadoes are gone and the temps are rising back to the 70s * He has been in his current area for 5 months. That is the longest he has been in an area and he loves it! He would love to stay there for the rest of his mission.

How is everything going? Things here are going pretty good. Can't complain. With the new year, we officially started covering three wards instead of two. The Gila River Ward split and now it is in effect. That just means that we are going to have to work harder and smarter. Its kinda exciting but at the same time I can feel the responsibilities grow. What I'm learning is to be patient and that I can't do everything and that is okay. I just have to do my best. For New Year's Eve we had to be in by 6 pm so it was a pretty boring night, I did set my New Year's resolutions though. I went into the Christlike Attributes section of Preach My Gospel and evaluated myself on each one and how I want to improve. I have already been putting it into effect and I have noticed a difference. i am slowing down, being more observant, but always doing something. It is helping me not get frustrated over little thing. Also with the New Year, we began the challenge Pres Beck gave us to wi...