An Unexpected Suprise

True Rock Music is raw, gritty, and powerful.  It is something that very few bands' sound can achieve.  It is something that our band, Humble Everest, is attempting. 

The other day during practice we were trying our very hardest to make things sound the very best they could.  Will Fulmer was on guitar, Jake Buhler was singing, Matt O'Donnel was on drums, and yours truly was on bass.  We were playing the songs over and over in an attempt to pound perfection into our brains and nail every note, rest, and harmonic. 

After a couple long hours of rocking out, as young men normally do, we got ravenous.  We were starving for sustenance.  After debating on where to go get food, we ultimately decided on getting two Little Caesars pizzas.  We drove on over, picked up some pizzas, then went back to our practice area.  As I was about to dive into some cheap and tasty pizza, Will interjected.

"How about we say a blessing on the food and dig in?"  Perhaps it's just me, but when I think of four aspiring rockers, drooling over Hot n' Ready pizza, one of the last things that comes to my mind is prayer.  I was certainly surprised.  We all agreed that it would be best that we said a prayer.  We all stood around awkwardly for only a moment before Jake volunteered to pray. 

I don't know why I continually underestimate the spirituality of others, but the prayer that Jake gave was inspiring to me.  I'm not going to go into what the prayer said, but it really got me thinking about who I was associating myself with and how lucky I am to have such great uplifting friends.  Through all the distractions of the world, we didn't forget to thank our Heavenly Father for all that he has done for us. 

“Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work.”
― Gordon B. Hinckley

This quote came to my mind as I was later thinking back on the situation.  Sure, we didn't sound perfect, but we worked the hardest that we could.  I could feel the spirit as we practiced.  It was strange, but in a good way.  I've never mixed Rock, and the spirit of the lord.  I like it though.  I'm going to have to make an attempt to make sure it is always there when we play. 

I can't give my friends enough credit for who I am today.  Without them I don't know where I would be, who I would be, or what I would be doing.  Though I'm not where I wanted to be a couple years ago, I'm pretty happy with where I am now.  My friends are a wonderful example to me and I pray with all my heart that I can continually grow to be a better person along with them.

For those of you who made it all the way through this post, good job, you're probably bored now though.  So go watch funny videos on Youtube, Freddie Wong has some pretty good ones. I like them at least...!

Here is a link to my band's page on Facebook,
Humble Everest

Sunday in poetic form

Alas, the time has come

for another day of worship to begin

To my feet I jumped, quick

time for church, I tried to contain a big grin

Informed I'll be alone

babies will be at home, along with parents

Not totally without

Danielle decided that she needed Guidance

Listened very closely

I tried to absorb the gospel best I could

must have worked out greatly

cuz now I want to do just as Jesus would

I notice this is lame

next time I do this I will revise it more

Make it actually cool

It will be as easy as counting to four

but back to my story

got back from worship and started making food

chicken and potatoes

it was delicious, I was one happy dude.

went to walmart to see

if the red box had the movie I wanted

Alas it contained it

I was so happy, my sister I taunted.

Just kidding I would not

ever think to taunt my baby sister dear

that is a lie as well

but fortunately she was in a good cheer.

the movie was awesome

the critics were right in their judgement of it

I enjoyed the movie

too bad Tyson had to be throwing a fit

we had to pause the film

but don't worry we finished it in good time

took it back to the store

then came back home and listened to other rhymes

talked with Audrey a bit

okay actually I talked to her lots

learned different blues boxes

then decided to go to sleep... on the rocks.

okay that last rhyme was

forced, i hope you don't come to judge me harshly

but I'm saying goodbye

don't forget your friend Bryce

Sorry about that lame poem.  I was feeling creative tonight and decided that I would attempt to write about my day like that.  I don't think it turned out too well.  Thanks for reading though!

Inside my life (from a camera's perspective)

This is my second post of the day.  I don't know why I feel the urge to do another, but I am going to anyways. 

I have decided that I am going to show you some of the things that I have done, as seen from a camera, and give you some insight as to what is going on.

This picture was taken at Party Rock.  My friends Austin, Daniel, Miranda, Rachel, Robert, and I were all on a trip to St. George just for fun.  I have no idea exactly how high the cliff was that we jumped off of, but this is one of my favorite pictures of the event taking place.

I am not 100% sure who took this picture, but whoever did, thank you so much, it is truly precious.  This is Audrey and I at the Billy Dean concert in Payson.  It was super fun and best of all FREE!!!!  Country may not be the kind of music that I like, but being there with Audrey, my Mother, (the woman in blue, sunglasses, and eating ice cream) and my friends who are not pictured, made the entire night worth it.

These are my best friends.  I know that I really should not pick favorites, but these two truly are the best friends someone could ask for.  We may fight at times and have small quarrels, but we come out of the trials with a stronger friendship and a deeper respect for one another.  Daniel and Austin are just amazing friends.  They put up with me, are loyal, trustworthy, and encourage me to do the right thing, even when i don't want to.

Dorky glasses, I know.  This picture is of me and Rees Knuteson just before he left on his mission.  I had no idea what kind of guy or even who he was three months earlier.  He was the head lifeguard at the payson city pool and was just such a great example to me.  I didn't get the chance to tell him what an impact and influence he's had on me.  Because of him, I feel even more determined to go on a mission.

There really isn't much to say about this picture other than U2 used to be my favorite band of all time, and I finally got to see them after years of waiting, and waiting.  It was super fun, and the entire family got to enjoy bono and the gang.

I'm not one hundred percent sure what Mekinzey was laughing about in this picture, but I think it may have to do with the fact that I was talking to Audrey after abandoning a conversation with her and Melissa when Aud showed up. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong. Who knows? Mekinzey probably :D

                  I think that this picture speaks for itself.

Learn to Love

I'm not going to lie. I really didn't enjoy going to church all that much before today.  Maybe it was because I get bored, or I could have been doing other things, but I still went because it was the right thing to do. 

For those of you who made it past my admitance, you can now hear the amazing, heart-changing experience I had today at church. 

Sacrement Meeting went by as usual, I listened, but didn't open up my heart like I should have.  I do all I can and invite the spirit in when I bless, but check out once I'm done.  I counted the seconds until finally it was over.

Sunday School was the same too.  I got there, tried my best to listen and be an example to the younger ones, but gave up and checked out again.

Then, priesthood came.  We did our opening song, got through our meeting, then ventured over to our classroom where we began our own little meeting. 

Lucky for us it was Ward Conference, so our Young Mens presidency was there to speak to us. 

I don't know what it was, but I decided that I wasn't appreciating church as much as some people do.  I made the decision that I was going to listen intently and ponder the words that they spoke to us. 

I pulled out my notebook, pencil, and scriptures and devoured every word they said.  Sure, I'd felt the spirit before then, but at the end of their talks as I was listening I felt the spirit so strongly I was nearly sent to tears.  The YM presidency finished up their talks and it was time for me to close the meeting.  I stood up, and poured out my testimony onto the classroom.  The YM presidency was sort of taken back that I had bore my testimony, not that they didn't want me to, but that they didn't expect me to do such a thing. 

After that small experience I decided that I am goign to listen with all of my heart to everything that has to do with the gospel the way I listened in church today.  Perhaps I'm jsut being cheesy, but I feel like I had a huge change of heart.  I am actually looking forward to going to church next week.

I learned to love church.  I learned to love conference this year. I learned to love Young mens.  I am sad that it has taken me this long to love it, but overjoyed that I do.  I hope that I can continually grow ever closer to my father in heaven and be with him again. 

The Power of Prayer

Prayer is an amazing thing.  Lately I've been praying more and more than I normally have.  I pray for small petty things, large important things, and things that matter to me.  Why I have not already been praying this much is explained by just one word, laziness. 

Honestly, today was not a very good day for me.  I woke up, said my first morning prayer in weeks and went about my normal routine.  I cannot imagine what today would have been like had I not said that one prayer after school.

I was preparing for work and was just feeling... depressed to say the least. I was about to head off to work when I remembered something I heard at conference this year,

"One might well ask why He would concern Himself with something so small. I am led to believe that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that the things that are important to us become important to Him, just because He loves us. How much more would He want to help us with the big things that we ask, which are right" J. Devn Cornish

I dropped to my knees and offered up my heart unto the lord and prayed for a better day, the first presidency, the safety and well being of my loved ones, and whatever else my mind could conjure up.  After I was done offering my prayer to the lord, I stood up, and went to work.  I forgot 100 % that I was feeling sour the second I left my house. 
The power of prayer doesn't even have to work immediately.  There are instances in my life where I had to continually ask of the lord before I found my answer.
I am thankful that we have a direct connection to god right at our finger tips 24/7.  I hope that all of you remember to say your prayers when you need them, and just as important, when you don't think you need them.  Have a wonderful week

Real Steel delivers a "Winning Punch"

I LOVE movies.  So, perhaps once in a while I will review a Movie.  The movie I chose to review was, "Real Steel"  This is actually my article for the school, paper, so if you feel it needs to be more, explaining or needs adjustments, lemme know!

Boxing is already a sport that if one watches, cannot help but cheer and yell for your pick of the match.  Throw in an estranged father and son, two towering hunks of killer machine, a true underdog story, and you have Real Steel.  I personally found it slightly difficult not to cheer on “Atom” the robot as he took on, “Zeus” the world champion of the Robot Fighting League.  The movie is a wonderful example of beautiful animation, a captivating score, and a heartwarming tale of father and son.  The computer animation of Real Steel was mind-blowing.

Whilst viewing the movie, one cannot help but feel astounded at how lifelike the robots are.  You can lose yourself in the animation and actually believe that there are two robots fighting to the death.  Not only were the robots immaculate, but the buildings and gadgets that the characters were interacting with were simply beautiful.  The animation could not have captivated the audience as well as it did, had it not been for the amazing score.

The music of Real Steel is gritty, aggressive, and perfectly suited for the type of movie it is.  You find yourself in “Atom’s” first fight feeling the tense, aggression of the atmosphere, brought on by the heavy guitar riffs that accompany the scene.  You feel joyous and happy as the team of father, son, and robot win their fights one by one as the score gives you the best they’ve got with their beautiful strings section.  You also feel at home during the opening sequence as acoustic guitar plays a country song.  But all was exceeded by the amazing development of father and son.

One cannot deny the beautiful bond that a father and son share, it is beautiful.  Within Real Steel you find Hugh Jackman’s character, a has been boxer, and his son, though at first estranged since birth, growing ever closer as the film progresses.  The two at first don’t want anything to do with the other, but as they find how alike they are, and the common interests they share, toward the end of the movie embrace each other with open arms.  The final fight sequence is overpowered by a shot of the two realizing how much they love and care about one another.

In conclusion, the movie was outstanding.  Though it takes a bit in the start to pick up, by the end you will be fully satisfied with your ticket purchase. It’s animation, music, and tear jerking plot are the “Real Deal.”   Go see this movie, even if it’s just to see Hugh Jackman’s rippling muscles, you will not find yourself feeling cheated or disappointed in your choice to see this tale of a father and son overcome the odds. This movie truly is a winner by knockout.

Rating out of Ten

7