On the Flip-Side ;)

I thought about deleting this blog and just focusing on my new one, but maybe I'll turn this into my Military Adventure Blog! (okay, that actually sounded kind of lame, but still!)

A note on the enlistment process:

I did return to MEPS the following week to take the ASVAB. It went well, I got a pretty good score on the test. The hotel stay was fun, the food was decent, and it was cool being able to spend some time with other people in the same boat. However, the next morning, after enduring through all of the tests (including that dreaded urinalysis. . .) I found out I would be unable to enlist without a further bit of medical paperwork. I previously had slight problems with my wrist, and had seen the doctor about it, but it was doing fine. On the enlistment paperwork, I initially said no to "Previous or current pain in the wrist . . ." despite constant naggings from my conscience. When I went to MEPS, I started feeling really guilty about hiding that bit of information, so I changed my answer. It turned out that all I had to do was go to the doctor's office, and get a copy of the documentation. I got it and turned it in, and it was cleared up in no time.

Hah, then I had to wait a few more days before I was able to officially enlist. I think this whole ordeal was a little divine intervention geared toward giving me enough time to completely think everything through, and back out of it if I wanted to. However, according to one of my favorite musicals: "Mama says it doesn't matter if you're a king or you're a clown - once you drive up a mountain, you can't back down."

My recruiter, Sergeant Boughton, was out recovering from back surgery, so he was unable to go with me through the process, but Sergeant Spier took me back up to MEPS, and then to the Utah National Guard Headquarters. There, my paperwork was double checked, and I was finally sworn in (well, technically I was "affirmed" in, but same deal). Major Turley was the one who led me through the Oath of Enlistment.

And now I'm looking back at it all. . . Find joy in the journey. Come what may and love it!

Hooah!

So yesterday's PT session (Physical Training for those of you army-ly declined ;) was pretty tough. We did some circuit training, where the goal is to keep your heart rate working for long periods of time. I was basically about to die, but it made me think of my interpretation of the word "Hooah!" It's when you push your hardest, give your all, and don't give in. It's the feeling you get when you're on the verge of giving in, but reach the finish line strong anyway, knowing that you did your best. Hooah!

Oh, a side note: Heh, I changed my blog name again. It came from some of my friends in LDC (the Latter-Day Celebration choir at the Orem Institute of Religion), and I thought it would be more fitting than some random song-inspired title. So yeah, I'm still living in technicolor, but it'll fit more for me to update y'all on where I've been, where I am, and where I'm going. So next time, you won't have to ask, "Where's Pauldo?" You'll already know ;) Okay, that was kind of lame. . . anyways. . .

Ah, and a note on my tunes. If you hear something offensive, let me know so I can ban the track. I picked my favorite artists, but some of them do have a few of those "poop on a cookie" songs. Long story, ask Eric Sackett about that one :D

Good things come to those that wait. . .

Well, I did leave to take the ASVAB today, but somehow I didn't make it into the processing system. I get to wait another week before taking the plunge.

Maybe it's a good thing, maybe I'm supposed to have this extra time to think about it. I doubt my answer will change, I can't deny what I've felt about this. Maybe it's just a little turbulence that the adversary wants me to get all frustrated over. Who knows?

Anyways, I'll be patient; stuff happens, it's a fact of life.

Well folks, here goes!

Wow, this has been a very long decision process - full of ups and downs, worry, hope, fear, peace, excitement, anxiety, and anticipation. . . The decision has been made; the cogs have been turning for some time now, but they're hitting full motion tomorrow.

I am enlisting in the Utah Army National Guard on Wednesday. I leave tomorrow to take the ASVAB, and spend Wednesday in processing. Assuming everything goes well, I will then be sworn in and receive the rank of Private First Class (thanks to my Eagle Scout Award and college achievements thus far).

I'm not doing this to run away from a mission; no, I'm doing it because it is something I feel I need to do. I've spent a lot of time praying about this, and studying it out, and I know that it will be of great benefit to me. Besides, it will be supplemental to my emotional, physical, and mental preparation for a mission.

I am really excited for this; I mean, there have been plenty of doubts and worries, but in the end I come to a sense of comfort.

Wish me luck!

Don't let him deceive you

This post came about in part from an excellent talk my sister introduced me to called "Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence" and a talk someone gave in my ward's sacrament meeting today on roughly the same topic. That talk is so amazing, I recommend it to anyone who is facing big life decisions.

My message for tonight is this:

If you have been praying about something, and the "answer" you've been receiving is some form of doubt, worry, or fear, do not take it to be a "no". Those three emotions are tools of the adversary, and God will not use them when He answers your prayers. I used to think that if I got a bad feeling after praying, the answer was no. This is not the case; a "no" from God will be a "stupor of thought." It's kind of hard for me to explain what exactly a stupor of thought is, but I know that it does not consist of worry, fear, or doubt. Upon closer thought of those previous "bad feeling" answers, I have realized that worry and doubt were the roots of the feeling.

Don't let the adversary make you think the answer is no by feeding you fear and doubt. Don't listen to him, don't give in. Trust in the Lord, and think back to your moments of clarity!

Multiple Facets, New Depth

It seems like everyday that I come across some new piece of information or idea that changes the entire feel of this decision process. I usually tend to blow things out of proportion, and thought at first that it was two sided decision - one path or the other. It turns out that this is not the case, and it's going to be alright if I don't choose this path, I will be able to take it later on. However, there are advantages to taking this path now, and it could help me out in the long run. Then again, if I don't take that route, I'll be fine as well. There are advantages and disadvantages either way. . .

Don't get me wrong, the decision is still going to be really hard, and I'm going to have to pay a lot of attention to the feelings in my mind. At least have the knowledge that I won't completely miss out on the opportunities I once thought I would.

Decision in the Works

I apologize in advance for the conflicting tenses this post will contain. My mind isn't just thinking past-ward, forward, or current-ward; it's switching in and out throughout the three.

Oh wow, the past couple of weeks have been awesome, scary, nervifying, wonderful, and stressful. I am in a very interesting point of my life right now; a big decision is ahead of me. Now, maybe I'm over-reacting, and maybe it's not that big of a deal, but I beg to differ. The path ahead of me is split, and if I choose one route, I forfeit something wonderful for something else wonderful. I can see myself walking either path, but it's so hard to choose. I want this path so bad, but am scared to death of it at the same time. But if I choose the other path, I will always regret not taking the first. The first seems so appealing, yet I need to fully understand what I would be getting into. . .

I can't hurry this decision, I won't hurry it. No matter which direction I choose, I have to be dead-sure that it's what I want. It's going to take me a while to come to the final conclusion, yet I'm going to need to reach that conclusion by April. Will I be able to? I have to; one way or the other, the decision will have to be made by then.

More details regarding the decision and what this is all about will come.