A new year

Well, it is a new year (even though it is half way through the month).  I have set a few goals for myself this year that I am going to accomplish.  The first one is probably going to be the hardest for me.  That is to lose 20 pounds.  I know that doesn't seem like it would be all that hard but for me losing weight is not easy.  So it is a good challenge that I intend on doing.  My second goal is to run 300 miles this year.  This should be fairly easy if I can get my shin splint to cooperate with me. My third goal is to finish one of the games I am working on.  I just need to stay motivated.  The one I am working on right now is just a simple text based game so it shouldn't be too hard to get it done by the end of the year.  I am already about 1/8 of the way done with it already. My last goal is to be debt free by the end of the year.  This will be difficult especially if this year ends up like last year where any extra money we had went to paying medical bills. So we shall see how it goes this year.  So far it hasn't gone all that well with Star breaking her wrist.  But hopefully that will be all that happens. Only time will tell...

I don't get it

Sometimes I just don't get people.  I don't get why they choose to get all offended about something that really isn't a big deal.  Or they are upset because things aren't the way people think they should be.  Some people just need to get over themselves and deal with what life  throws at them.

Lately I have been hearing people complain about how bad the Branch is.  How it sucks being in a branch and not in a ward, etc.  I just don't get why people feel that way.  For some reason they think they would be better off in a ward than in the branch.  And yes, I know who those people are and I know how much the branch has helped them out.  Help that they most likely wouldn't have gotten in a ward.  Are they upset because they have a calling that they don't want?  Are they upset because they think being in a branch in Utah is shameful?  Seriously, I don't understand what their issues with the branch are.

I have been in the branch since its beginning.  So I speak with full authority when I say that being in the branch is way better than how things were before. Before the branch we were going to a ward in Syracuse.  We would go down to church only to be ignored and criticized because we were one of the "Apartment People". We would purposefully be left out of ward activities and everything.  Now explain to me how that is better than being in the branch where everyone is invited to everything (including all our non-member neighbors) and never shunned because of where they live. When the branch was created I had my doubts.  Heck, for the first several months there were like 25 people TOTAL coming to church every week.  Now our average attendance is over 100 (which is getting close to what a wards attendance is). The branch has grown tremendously.  It is wonderful. I love being in the branch.

I know there were people in the branch that were hoping with the boundaries being redone that we would be dissolved into a ward.  I knew that wouldn't happen. And I am glad it didn't.  I like how Pres. Moulding said that for those that don't like how things were changed they should take it up with Pres. Monson since he approved it.  The branch coming into existence is the same way.  It wasn't created by the stake presidency.  I was created by the prophet himself.  It is quite inspiring to hear the story of how the branch came into being.  It was definitely created by divine inspiration.

When I hear people complain about the branch I take it personally. My family is one of the few families left in the branch that have been here since the beginning.  I have spent countless hours making things function as close to a ward as possible. And the branch does function almost like a ward.  In some areas we function better.  But then we get people that move into the branch and just complain about how they don't like the branch and it really annoys me.  What is so different about the branch that it makes it bad to be in?  What?  NOTHING!!!

I would just like to say one last thing and I am sure some people would take what I am going to say personally and get all offended - but I don't care if they get offended because they chose to be offended.  I say if you have a problem with the branch or you want to be in a ward then feel free to move.  You could try having your records moved to a ward, but not liking a branch isn't really a good enough reason for the stake president to approve something like that.  So your best option is to move. If that isn't an option for you then get over yourself and accept the branch for what it is.  Stop trying to tear it down with your negativity and personal  tirades against everyone in the branch that works so hard to keep it going just because you think it should be done differently. Doing so doesn't just sadden those of us that love the branch but it saddens the Lord because HE is the one that created the branch for our benefit.

Ok.  I am going to step off my soapbox now. And no, I am not sorry if I offended anyone.