Andrew Klemme

2009-03-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

This past week has been pretty brutal on me. It wasn't so much that it was hard just, I really saw a road I didn't want to go down. I allowed myself to be really lazy and not get very much down. As a result, I get to spend the rest of this week working twice as hard as a normal week.

You never really realize the blessings of stepping out into the dark and taking a chance until you do it. I told a really good friend of mine this past week that I liked her. I've blogged about it before so I won't go into too much detail. To make a long story short, it went really well. Things have become way less awkward and for the first time I am not the one trying to set things up to hang out. Funny thing is, she didn't share my same feelings. But, it was good to finally talk again. I just feel really comfortable around her. Like I can talk to her about anything and not be worried. It's nice to have a friendship with an awesome person like that. They affect your life in so many ways and don't even realize it.

I've been reading in 3 Nephi this past week trying to catch up before my midterm. As I was reading and pondering today, I had this desire to read 3 Nephi 11:15. It reads, "And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this day did do, going forth one by one untill they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come."

I started to think of the second coming, my life, and especially the Atonement. The power I feel when I think of that single act is beyond any I have ever felt before. I can't describe it. It is amazing, powerful, and tangible. I know without a doubt that it is true.

In my mission prep class, Dr. Livingstone has been working with us to really focus on the important things when teaching a lesson. He gives us opportinities to throw together a fast lesson and teach it to another person. It's been tough, but I have learned so much from those times. Anyway, something he has been really adamant about is getting to the Atonement in our discussions. I knew the Atonement was important to the Gospel. I knew that it was through the Atonement that we are able to return to live with Heavenly Father again. But, after reading that verse, it's importance really hit me. It is through Christ's eternal sacrifice that allows us to return back to live with our Heavenly Father. He knows our trials, He knows our sufferings, He knows our pain.

I know with a surety that Christ is real. The Gospel is real. The Book of Mormon is true. The prophets are indeed called of God to lead and guide His church on Earth today. Lastly, I know we have a friend in Jesus Christ. He is our Savior, Lord, and King. He loves us and wants the best for us. He will never leave us alone. He will never leave us alone.

Regret?

2009-02-16T22:03:00.000-08:00

Time will tell a lot of things about people. I myself have learned a lot about myself through the past 18 years of my life. Likes, dislikes, talents and faults I have them just as much as the next guy.

I'm getting ready to serve a two year mission. Two years away from the world, life, and the garbage that infests this planet. My focus will be to serve Heavenly Father with all my might mind and strength.

Anyway, I was reading a note by a "friend" (or so I thought) the other day and I somewhat upset me. Shear disgust and lost of trust really. He often told me that he wanted to stay friends for a long time after graduation. Well, guess what, I guess a long time is only a few months.

When I made the decision to come out to BYU, I made it for myself. Not my parents, my friends...no, I wanted it. I wanted to be at a place where I belonged. I guess that means I have to sacrifice relationships I wished to keep.

I have found that, through my time out here, there have been a very select group of high school friends that have really supported me and my decision. I respect that a lot. I respect that on days where my life felt like crap and I was so overwhelmed I did not think I could go on, they were there.

To those who claim to be a friend, bloody show it. I'm not going to wait up just so you can try and hang on to a world that no longer exists. I understand it is hard to leave those you care about and you enjoy to hang out with, but it is time to grow out of high school. Time to grow out of immaturity. Time to face the world with determination and courage. Time to move on with life.

One last thing, if you think it is hard to move on and start a new life, try being forced to do it. Do not get me wrong I will still be there through your trials and hardship as it always has been in the past. However, I will not tolerate cancers. If push comes to shove, well..use your heads and figure it out. If you know me so well it should not be that hard.

I have learned to adapt. How about you?

Late

2009-02-09T22:52:00.000-08:00

So, yah, I haven't written in a couple of months. Things just became so busy and finals came so fast this blog took a back seat in my life. However, I survived my first semester. I ended up with a 3.75 GPA for the semester and have a 3.85 accumulated GPA. The sweetest part is the fact that I am a sophomore now! It sure paid off to do all the crazy classes my last year of high school. But, I was home for two weeks at Christmas time and felt it was way to short. Most of my friends had a little over a month. However, I get out of school in April whereas they get out at the end of May. Anyway, this semester is pretty easy for me. The benefits of being a semester ahead. I'm able to hang out and have more fun than I did last semester. However, I am juggling a job still. I was promoted however! I'm the new Accounting Assistant in the BYUSA Student Leadership office. I love it. I have also gone skiing a couple of times this semester and want to try and go again this weekend but we will have to see what happens.

The main reason I felt I needed to write was to clarify my testimony of the power of the Priesthood. My home teaching companion and I had the opportunity to give a couple of blessings this week. Those are always the coolest experiences because you really begin to understand that you are being a mouthpiece for the Lord. I was not the one saying the words, it was him. I also want people to know how much I love this gospel and to have them know that I know, without a doubt, that it is true. I have seen some of my closest friends in high school veer and sway with the crowd. I have seen people make hearbreaking mistakes. I have seen lives fall apart. It hurts me to see it but everybody has the answer to their problems, it just takes a little humility to get on your knees and ask for help. Anyway, I'll try and be a little more diligent with this.

Thought

2008-11-23T20:59:00.000-08:00

It amazes me how our thoughts change over time. Over the past few months, I have gone through a rebirth of sorts. A...mental car crash into reality. I came out to school for a change of scenery. A change from the life that I had back home in Missouri. I had an awesome conversation with Raymond Lehnhoff tonight. The one person I felt I had a place with last summer. He never judged me. Not once. I was always welcome, regardless of the time or day. I wish I would have made more of an effort to know him more. This past weekend has been one of the best I have had in a long time. I went on a date this past Friday with an old friend from way back when. It was a huge group date. And I tell you what, there is nothing like an amazing game of lazer tag and a movie with people you enjoy being around. Anyway, I took this girl I met a long time ago. Just a random placement of people. To give some background but to keep it short, we met at an EFY three years ago in Boise, ID and we went on a "Celebration of Survival" date type thing about 3 weeks ago. Enough said.

I broke up with my girlfriend of two years two months ago. It was the hardest thing I think I ever had to do. But, I knew it had to be done. Both of us knew it had to be done. However, it has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. When I dated her, I lost sight of a lot of things. Things that were once important to me weren't anymore. I look back on it now and my thoughts on the situation were very one sided. It didn't matter what people told me or advised me, there only purpose was to make sure that we could never be happy. Well, we successfully made that unhappiness possible on our own. It was very unhealthy, but the fear of loneliness kept us together. However, as hard and as bad as things were, they made me realize so many things.

Like I already mentioned, I lost sight of a lot of things and being one type of person for so long eventually causes you to remain that type of person. After our break up, I went through a withdrawl period. Like when the body tries to get used to not having drugs. My roomates can attest to the unhappiness I went through. It was not fun and I do not wish those feelings of heartache on my worst enemies. However, things began to change once I let them.

Being a recluse never gets you anywhere in life. This was the type of person I was for about 2 weeks after our break up. Part of my wanted to go back, but the other part of me made it impossible for me to do so. However, one experience showed me that I was changing. I was gaining my life back. It was the date with that girl I mentioned. There was something that happened that night that I had not felt for a long time. I felt....comfortable. Like I was somewhere with someone that I would feel safe with. No fears, worries, temptation, or any other garbage satan likes to throw at us. It may sound so dumb but, that night we went to a volleyball game and went bowling with her roomate afterwards. However, the best part of that night was the walk from my apartment to the Smith Fieldhouse where the game was being played. We talked. Simple yet so powerful.

This past Friday was a lot of the same thing. It was weird to ask her out on a more serious date. But at the same time to, I wanted to do so so badly after the first experience. To give a bit of a poor analogy, It was like wanting a drug. A spiritual, mental high. That night, after the group date, I stayed at her apartment until 1:30 am (yes, to those who are a little surprised, 1:30 in the morning.) We "watched" Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Now, I say watched because we talked more than we watched. It was so amazing. I couldn't help but think that we only knew each other for a week at an EFY three years ago. And then, lots of phonecalls, a bit of a bowling get together last summer, and some msn chatting, for a grand total of three years later I was sitting on her couch talking to her as if, in my opinion, we had known each other forever. There were no boundries. We talked to each other and each other listened. I learned so much that night. However, I learned of a predicament that I had put myself right in the middle of.

This girl has changed my life in so many ways. They often say that you should find somebody that makes you want to be a better person. She is that sort of role model. Now yes I know I am 18 years old and I don't know anything about feelings or what I want. However, I have learned from my mistakes of the past and am going to use them now. I know what needs to be done. Now, I know that I still have my mission ahead of me and that is what I am looking towards now. But, this is something that I can't let go of. I often ask myself "Why do we still talk to each other?" The truthful answer is, I don't know. I don't know why I always had a desire to stay in touch or why I have had such a desire to get to know her better. The one thing I do know is this one truth:

I Really Like Her.

Before my previous relationship, she was there and even during our relationship, I always knew I could call her and have someone fun, energetic, and so amazingly spiritual to talk to. And now after that time in my life is over, she is still there and is still that spiritual beacon that I can look toward. Just like I was told that day in West Plains.

I apologize now if none of this makes sense. Free writing is so amazing. It allows us to write our hearts out on paper. So, look at these remarks as such. As part of my heart written on paper

What a Week

2008-11-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Wow, I totally survived this week. You can't possibly imagine how much I was dreading it! As mentioned in my last blog, I took a couple of exams this week. My history exam went well (I thought) and my music exam was once again an A. I sort of underestimated the work college would entail. At first it was not to bad or too busy. But, man, you hit a couple of months and the tests just come pouring down like rain. The thing is, unlike high school, there are no study guides, test review days, or extra credit questions. It solely relies on your attentiveness in class, the notes you take, and the reading you are responsible for. Slip up on any of those, and you can kiss and A goodbye. It's definitely been a little different for me this year because, unlike high school, I'm also juggling a 20 hour a week job to pay for school. However bad it may sound, however, the experiences and the knowledge I'm gaining have changed my life in so many ways than one. Back to my week. After my music exam on Wednesday, I had a math test to prep for. I was planning on taking it on Friday, but, Friday came around too fast and I was not ready for it. So, I made the bold decision to take it next week. However, this week did have it's highlights. My room mate and I decided to dress up as Jim Halpert on Halloween. I went as 3-hole punch Jim while my room mate went as Dave Jim from Thursday's episode. Needless to say, we were a huge hit (me more than him though.) So, to make a long story short, with my tests going well, the opportunity to postpone a test, my awesome Halloween costume, and some other factors as well made this a pretty good week all in all. What can I say, I wouldn't trade my experiences out here for anything!!

No Time for a Breath

2008-10-29T23:47:00.000-07:00

Well, I took another test today. It went really well considering I studied for it for an hour yesterday and 45 minutes today. However, it was a music exam so it's not like it was super difficult. Memorize some listening examples, go over a few notes, and eat a small bag of Bacon and Cheddar TGI Friday's potato skin chips. After it was said and done, I got a 94% on it. This seems to be my standard score seeing that I've scored a 96%, a 94%, and a 94% on my last three tests. I don't know, I'm pretty content with the scores I'm getting and am learning loads in the class. However, this test was only the second of a series of five I have to take within the next week and a half. So, we will see what happens. No time to breathe that is for sure. I'll be so glad when next weekend comes and all of these stupid things will be over with for a while. Then I can focus on my homework. Anywho, I failed to mention that the coolest thing happened to me yesterday. I was heading to the Testing Center here on campus to study for my World History test yesterday when, by coincidence, I ran into two guys that were in my ward back in Missouri when my family first moved out there. I hadn't seen them since they moved away from the Rolla Ward 10 years ago. It was a pleasent surprise that made me day. So, all in all, the week has been good to me so far, but has made me super tired and worn out, and maybe a little crabby as some of the poeple close to me can attest to. Oh well. At least when it is over I'll be able to breathe easier for a little bit and sleep peacefully!

Welcome, Your Life Has Just Begun.

2008-10-28T20:51:00.000-07:00

So, I've been in college for about 2 months now and it has been a total blast until these past few days. My dad was in town, which was fun don't get me wrong, but that happiness was overshadowed by a massive 3 hour test I needed to take today. I'm not gonna lie, I've never been so worried about a test in my life! Two weeks ago today, my professor gave us a link to the study guide he and his TA's put together. It was four pages single spaced of items we need to know. So, in order to cope with the task, some of my classmates (30 or so) got together last Thursday and Friday and worked on it. Each separate group worked on a different part of the study guide. Let's just say that, after we were done and all the questions were answered, the study guide was 31 pages long. Kind of harrowing for a college freshman. So, I spent most of my spare time Saturday and yesterday studying for my this thing. I finally took it today and felt pretty confident afterwards. I'm just more glad that it's over. I still have 3 more exams I need to worry about within the next 2 weeks so I can't completely relax yet. Oh well, such is life!!

Day 1

2008-10-26T20:46:00.000-07:00

Well, my room mate set up a blog not too long ago and it seemed like a fun thing to do to try and keep people informed about me. I'm not going to put too much time into it tonight but am looking forward to updating my life on a regular basis!!