In the Rough - The Blog of Joel McDonald Jr.

It’s the darndest thing. This past week I’ve been having thoughts and feelings that I’ve not had for a long time, or perhaps have never had before. Yeah, I know, I’m sounding a bit strange right now. It’s because I’m feeling a bit strange right now.

Below is my plan for the future…

1.) Serve an honorable mission and return home in 2006.
2.) After returning home, find gainful employment and find modest car and apartment.
3.) After stabalizing (mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially) enroll in school and begin word toward A.S with Comp. Sci. focus and then a B.S. in Comp. Sci. (might be moving out of state for the B.S.) During this time I might begin a computer consulting business.
4.) Lord willing, within five years, find a lovely young woman and be married in the Temple.

It’s no. 4 that has been on my mind a bit lately. I know, I’m horrible…I should be channeling all my thoughts and energies to my mission. If you actually know me, you know that I’m not one to fall for every girl that crosses my path, or to be one who continually seeks for love interests. Yeah, I’ve fallen a couple of times, but this feeling is different. It’s not about one person, but about the relationship. I am in want of an intimate companion whom I can share anything and everything with. When I say companion I in no way am referring to anyone going by “Elder”. I don’t know…it’s crazy. I had a change of heart in the Temple, witnessing my friends’ wedding. I went from have no desire to be married, to what I am feeling now. Yesterday I was thinking about it and it occured me to how untimely it was to begin having these feelings as I will leave in a week to begin a two year mission where I will not have any romantic relationships at all! Perhaps this is good and well. For one it tells me that, yes, even I have some sense of normalcy (thought the extent of that has yet to be determined), however if I had undergone this change of heart a year or so earlier, I may have gone to the Temple not to witness a wedding, but be a party to one!

Today was my last day at the Bayside Ward for two years. I have another ten days before I actually leave, but I will be down in North Carolina next weekend.

The Spirit was so strong at church today. We had two confirmations. One of the men, Brother Miles, is awesome! He is in a wheelchair but he is so full of excitement and energy. As he bore his testimony I just wanted to shout AMEN throughout it. I wish I would have been able to make it to his baptism.

I don’t know if it’s really hit me that I’m leaving yet. I’m generally not an emotional person, as in coming to tears in public (I try to avoid it at all costs) but one would think I’d be a little emotional over leaving for two years. I bore my testimony and said a few words without even coming close to breaking down. Perhaps it just hasn’t fully hit me yet.

The “Old Irish Blessing” on my last post was printed on the cover of our ward bullitin under my picture. I taped the cover into my little mission scrapbook.

Only one more full week before I leave. I think I’m going to quit work early…like after getting paid *grins*

This weekend is a bit of a blur, but I want to write about it anyway.

Friday evening I did something I’ve never done before…*drum roll*…I did a load of laundry! Need to make sure I know how and wont ruin my clothes while on a mission.

Saturday I got a haircut, took a picture, made an 8×10 for my missionary farewell on Sunday. Went to the cajun festival with my mom and her boyfriend. Ate some really good food, tasted some really hot peppers. Toured a Portuguise sailing vessal. Partied with some sailors from Uraguay. Went to Jillians which is sort of like a bar and arcade combination. The games were awesome. Was the designated driver home. Got home about 2 AM.

SundayGot up and went to church. Had a high councilman speak on keeping the Sabbath holy. He said “What’s work for one person, might be rest and enjoyment for another” meaning what we can and can’t do on the Sabbath varies from person to person. I think for the most part everyone was 1.) Trying to stay awake because there was no flow to his talk and 2.) Wondering if he really understood the concept of the Sabbath. It was so funny in Sunday school when I told Ben my thoughts on the councilmans talk, and then another Ben (yeah…this is another Ben) sat down next to us and said the exact same thing. I can just see some little boy arguing with his parents now about being able to go out and play on the Sabbath because it’s “right for him”. I have to say that sometimes, very rarely though, some talks are just not inspired. Ben and I had our combined missionary farewell last evening. It was great. My grandparents came out and were there for most of it. It was fun introducing them to people and just great that they could be there. After everyone left save close friends and family of Ben, he was set apart as a missionary by the Stake President. I assisted in setting him apart. That was pretty cool. Afterwards we went to Ben’s sister’s house and looked through photo albums. Ben’s brother served a mission in Colorado Springs, so I got to see some pictures of the area and other rather “interesting” missionary pictures. After midnight (as not to break the Sabbath) we went to IHOP. Good stuff. Shouldn’t eat a big meal so late…er…early though before going to sleep. I got home and went to bed around 3:30am.

So yeah, I’m a bit tired now, but I had a great time. I’m so proud of Ben and it’s awesome that he’s going to serve a mission. The world needs more people like him. Sometimes his openess and humility amazes me. His ability to reach out to help someone even if he only just met them is such a wonderful trait. I have nother two weeks before I have to wish him a farewell for a couple years as I will see him at the MTC.

I’m looking forward to serving. Nothing else really matters to me. This is the time for me to serve and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Gee…LJ seems to be running really slow tonight.

*sigh* Ben realized how much he had to do before leaving for SLC on Monday, and thus decided he would not be able to go to the Washington D.C. Temple tomorrow. Since I don’t feel comfortable making the trip alone, I’ve decided to cancel those plans. I don’t know how reliable my car would be on a four hour trip. Ben’s a mechanic so at least he’d have some clue if something went wrong. I was also just looking foward to dicussing the Temple with him as he has some pretty good insights.

I have 20 days before I report to the Missionary Training Center (MTC). Sometimes I think I’m on track in getting everything taken care of…and then other times I feel so behind. I orded every book in my approved mission library tonight. Hopefully I’ll have what I can take to the MTC before I leave. The others I’m having sent to my mission. I wish I would have ordered them a long time ago, as it would have been good to have already aquainted myself with them. Oh well, live, learn, make mistakes, learn some more, keep making mistakes, learn some more, die, and learn more than you every imagined. I believe that is how we progress.

Sunday evening is my and Ben’s combined “open house” at the church. Should be pretty spiffy. Anyone in the general area of Hampton Roads is invited. I heard the food will be really good. It’s from 6pm to 8pm. Reply for directions.

I suppose that’s about it for tonight. I tried to order my bike online and found I needed to fax it. I guess I’ll do that from work tomorrow.

Take care out there and God Bless!

I woke up yesterday morning to the sound of my beeping alarm. Upon looking at the time I was puzzled. It was far to early to get up for church and I couldn’t think of anything else I needed to wake up for. It took me five minutes to figure out where I was, what I was doing, and that I needed to go to work. I was so completely lost it was not even funny. Even crazier is that this happened in Tuesday, and not Monday. I don’t understand myself sometimes. I think perhaps my job is just insignificant to me right now. My tasks are slowly being delegated elsewhere, as I’m leaving in a couple of weeks. If it wasn’t for the fact I needed the money, I think I could just stop working now.

Went bowling with a few friends last night. Had a pretty good time. Bowled an 84, 124, and 105. How crazy are those scores?!

Ben, who is leaving for the MTC on the 28th, and I really want to go up to the Washington D.C. Temple. We both went to the Temple for the first time within the last two weeks, and we really want to go back. I’ve not been to the D.C. Temple as I went in Seattle. Another Ben, who is leaving for the MTC on the 27th might also go with us. I hope he does. Two reasons, he has a newer and more reliable car, and he’s fun to hang out with. If he doesn’t go, we might risk taking my car up there. I’ve sort of sworn off driving long distances (it’s about a 4 hour trip) because I’m not sure if my car can get there and back. In fact I bought a bus ticket to visit my grandmother in North Carolina before I leave to the MTC. She lives about 4 hours to the south. We’ll see. We might chance it…might be a good adventure. Anyone know if it’s okay to give a priesthood blessing to a car? *smiles*