“Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family.” -President Thomas S. Monson

It’s been a while since I’ve last posted. With 2018 just around the corner, I wanted to take some time to look back on 2017. Doing so will allow me to reflect on my accomplishments, setbacks, adventures and what resolutions I can make for 2018.

I’ve been writing in a ‘One Line A Day: A Five Year Memory Book’ since July 28, 2014. (Thank you Kassidi for your example.) I love that I’m able to look back to see what I’ve done each day. Here is what I’ve done in 2017…

To start off… I went to church 22 out of the 51 Sundays. The majority of those times were at the beginning of the year. I was able to get my temple recommend and go to the temple five times (Provo City Center and Payson). I unfortunately lost my recommend and slipped off the path. There are 52 Sundays in 2018. Two are General Conference. My top resolution for 2018 is to go to church all 50 Sundays.

OH OH OH… I made it all of 2017 without having any alcohol. It was definitely hard some days but I DID IT!

Feeling His love today. I’m grateful for my trials because they help me draw closer to my Savior. I received my temple recommend today after years and years of not having been. I’m excited to enter back into the house of the Lord to do baptisms for the dead. “Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are. In fact, you are saviors on Mount Zion, and like the Master you follow, your love ‘never faileth.'” (February 19)

Got to do baptisms in the Provo City Center temple with my ward this morning and then did baptisms for my great-great grandpa and my great-great-great grandpa and his four boys in the Payson temple tonight. (February 25)

“And when temptations pow’r is nigh, our pathway clouded o’er, upon the rod we can rely, and heaven’s aid implore.” -The Iron Rod (March 19)

“One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to read The Book of Mormon. I finished it for the second time today. It brings peace and happiness to my life. Satan’s pursuit to have me fail has been constant over the past few months. The days where I’ve skipped my reading are the days he has won. That is how I know The Book of Mormon is true. Its power lifts me up on days when it’s hard to walk. It helps me draw nearer to God and Jesus Christ. If you haven’t read The Book of Mormon, start today. It can be as small as reading just one verse a day.” (April 15)

The gym. Oh… the gym. From what I have documented, I went 51 out of 365 days. My 2018 goal is to go AT LEAST three times a week. Out of the times I went, at least I got some good pictures. I also went on some fun hikes (Angel’s Landing, Mt. Timp, Lake Blanche at Sundial Peak) with family, friends and coworkers and went skiing for my first time!

   

Here is a list of books I’ve read this year: Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, The Book of Mormon, Jesus the Christ, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and The Horse and His Boy, The False Prince, Screwtape Letters and The Christmas Box. My goal for 2018 is to read AT LEAST one book a month.

Here is a list of movies I’ve seen in theater: La La Land, Hidden Figures, Before I Fall, Kong: Skull Island, Beauty and the Beast, Power Rangers, The Fate of the Furious, Disney Nature’s Born in China, Get Out, Wonder Woman, Rough Night, Baby Driver, Spider-Man: Homecoming, The House, Spiderman, Valerian, Dunkirk, It, Mother!, Happy Death Day, Justice League, Coco, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Pitch Perfect 3, The Greatest Showman and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. I also saw Novitiate, History of Comedy and Yellow Birds at the Sundance Film Festival.

Here is a list of television series I’ve finished this year:

“The show must go…all over the place…or something.” -Finn Hudson (February 13, for the second time)

Finished another adventure in Pawnee, Indiana! “We have to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, and work. Or waffles, friends, work. But work has to come third… Now, go find your team and get to work.” -Leslie Knope (February 28)

“This is how it ends, isn’t it?” -Norman Bates (April 25)

Uncle Jesse: We stuck it out and we got through it. Uncle Joey: Just like we always do. Danny: Just like we always will.

I watched Full House as a kid but never from start to finish. Finished the series last night and all I can say is that I’m grateful they’re back for Fuller House. (June 23)

Got A secret, cAn you keep it? SweAr this one you’ll sAve. Better lock it, in your pocket, tAking this one to the grAve. If I show you… then I know you… won’t tell whAt I sAid. CAuse two cAn keep A secret… if one of them is deAd… 7 years later! Goodbye Hannah, Emily, Spencer, Alison, Aria, Mona and the rest of the cast. (June 27)

“Because sometimes, even if you know how something’s going to end, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the ride.” -Ted Mosby

I LOVED the ending! (July 26)

Before we get to concerts and places I’ve traveled to, here are some other things that have happened this year. I switched to T-Mobile and got an iPhone 7+. I went to UVU’s PR Elevated Regional Conference in the spring, a Vivint sales kick-off with Peyton Manning, a couple of Jazz games, trips to Lagoon, camping, the rodeo, swimming parties, Halloween festivities, the Book of Mormon musical, the Utah Allies Equality dinner with Chelsea Handler, Kassidi’s wedding, Get Out Games and the First Presidency Christmas devotional. I also switched from listening to the radio to podcasts and completed the 30 day minimalism challenge. I got a promotion, my department dressed up as the cast of Stranger Things for Halloween and I had the chance to volunteer for different events for Vivint Gives Back.

 

A couple of celebrities tweeted me this year…

Places I traveled to:

Wyoming with my cousin Irie to visit my cousin Bridget

Canada and Europe with my cousin Chase

Toronto – Toronto Temple, downtown, China Town

Ireland – Dublin, Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral, Temple Bar District, road trip to Donegal, Slieve League Cliffs, Wild Atlantic Way, Sligo, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Mullingar

 

England – London, Abbey Road, Playhouse Theatre, Thames River, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly, The Parent Trap House

France – Paris, Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Seine River, Louvre and Mona Lisa, Jardin des Tuileries, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Palace of Versailles and the Paris LDS temple

Italy – Rome, Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, Roman Forums, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish steps, the Pantheon, Positano, Island of Capri and Anacapri, Pompeii and a night in Naples

Vegas with friends for concerts: Tiesto at Hakkasan (May 20), Billboard Music Awards with Camila Cabello, The Chainsmokers, Cher, Miley Cyrus, Celine Dion, Florida Georgia Line, Halsey, Sam Hunt, Imagine Dragons, John Legend, Lorde, Nicki Minaj with hosts Vanessa Hudgens and Ludacris (May 21), Ed Sheeran (August 4), Britney Spears (October 28), iHeartRadio Music Festival The Village with Migos, Halsey, Flume, Little Mix, French Montana, Niall Horan, Bleachers, Kelsea Ballerini, Judah & the Lion, Bebe Rexha, Louis Tomlinson, Noah Cyrus, Hey Violet, Cheat Codes, All Time Low, Khalid, Julia Michaels and night 2 with Kesha, Macklemore, Kings of Leon, Thomas Rhett, Lorde, Khalid, Jack Antonoff, Niall Horan, Miley Cyrus, Big Sean, DJ Khaled, Chance the Rapper, Travis Scott, French Montana, Quavo Huncho and Demi Lovato. (September 21)

Hung out at the Riverdale CW lounge where we saw all of the artists get interviewed. (Niall was inches away from me) They interviewed Amanda and I and gave us tickets to the night show too! This year was definitely one for the books.

   

California with my cousins Chase, Ciara, Nathan, Cory, Jessica and my sister for Universal Studios Horror Nights and Disneyland

Moved in with my strong, brave and beautiful sister to Salem

Arizona with my BFF Shinah to visit Kassidi, Russell and Niall Horan in concert

Additional concerts I’ve been to: Utah Symphony presents La La Land in concert (July 24), Kurt Vile (Twilight Concert Series – July 27), Solange (Twilight Concert Series – August 10), Lost 80’s Live with Tommy Tutone, The Flirts, Berlin, Naked Eyes, Wang Chung, Cutting Crew and Tony Hadley (September 27), Mavis Staples and Bob Dylan (October 18), Niall Horan (November 20), Katy Perry (November 24)

Paula Abdul and New Kids on the Block

All the world needs is peace and love. (June 9)

The Ying Yang Twins

My whistling while we twerk buddy. (June 28)

Stadium of Fire with Hunter Hayes, Brian Regan and Little Big Town

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine. Just own the night like the Fourth of July (July 1)

U92 Summer Jam with Chris Brown and Kid Ink (July 15)

Michael Mott, Jenna Ushkowitz and Andy Mientus

There’s a hill to climb. These minutes slip through hands of time and the hill is steep and I know talk is cheap. Oh, but we’ll be ok. So trust me as I lead the way. Yeah, we’ll be alright if you just hold on tight. Cause I try. Yes I try. And I try. Yes I try. (December 2)

Lady Gaga

I’ve got a hundred million reasons to walk away. But baby, I just need one good one to stay. Grateful to have music and concerts in my life to keep me going. (December 14)

Christmas Concert with Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville

Christ the Savior is born! (December 15)

Rest in Peace Sarah. I’ll miss giving you treats. “Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, filling an emptiness we don’t even know we have.” (February 27)

Celebrated my GREAT Grandma Hanks’ 86th Birthday at Chuck-A-Rama with the family tonight. (February 4)

My great grandma passed away this morning. I’m grateful she is no longer in pain and is reunited with her family in heaven. I can’t wait to see you again and will forever miss your loving eyes, getting kisses on my cheeks and hearing you say: “My sweet Cody.” Take care of my future kids up in heaven for me. We all just gained the best guardian angel anyone could ask for. Love you forever! (August 28)

Of Resolutions

“One day we will take that unavoidable step and cross from this mortal sphere into the next estate. One day we will look back at our lives and wonder if we could have been better, made better decisions, or used our time more wisely.

To avoid some of the deepest regrets of life, it would be wise to make some resolutions today. Therefore, let us: resolve to spend more time with those we love, resolve to strive more earnestly to become the person God wants us to be, resolve to find happiness, regardless of our circumstances.

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

My 2018 Resolutions:

• Attend church
• Get a temple recommend
• Receive the Melchizedek priesthood
• Go through the temple
• Date
• Read The Book of Mormon, The Bible Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price
• Read at least one book a month
• Pay off my student loan
• Eat healthy (less eating out)
• Exercise (at least three times a week)

If you took the time to read through the blog, thank you. Feel free to ask me how me how I’m doing with my 2018 goals to help keep me accountable.

“Do more than just exist… because the greatest adventure is what lies ahead.”