Life in the pain: Migraines

Hello my name is Alex and I have daily migraines.

My mother says before I could talk I would cry and point to my head. At a very early age I was prescribed horse size pills for my migraines. I was given special attention all through out my life, and there was even a point where I took advantage of the migraines. 

Elementary School

In Elementary School I literally passed out one time because I over excited myself playing a game of pictionary. I was 8 years old and went to the bathroom with my friend Rachel, and passed out in the stall. I don't remember passing out, I remember walking in and being really dizzy and then I was with the school nurse. If I felt a migraine coming on I would simply tell my teacher, go to the office take a pill, and sleep for about 30 minutes with an ice pack. I'd get up and go back to class, just a little bit loopy. By the time I was in 5th grade we had figured out some of my triggers. Low blood sugar was one of them and I had my own special snack drawer in my teachers office I was allowed to slip away to when I felt a migraine coming on. 

Middle School

By this time my migraines were so much a part of my life that I started to become accustomed to them. However they also increased, I missed a lot of school because of them. Not much to say here if I had one there wasn't a health office anymore to go to I would just call my mom or dad and they would come get me. 

High School 

It wasn't until High School that I allowed the migraines to control my life more and use them as a crutch. It was also in High School I was diagnosed with "Daily Migraines". Basically what it means is every day of my life I wake up in pain, I go to bed in pain, I work in pain, I live in pain. The pain ranges from a scale of 2-10 depending. But there is hardly ever a moment without pain. I envy people who are not in constant pain and I have even wondered if my pain is imaginative. The mind is a powerful tool and maybe I lived with migraines so long I can't live without them. Since I was in pain everyday sometimes dull, sharp, unbearable I allowed myself to make my illness a weakness. Because I missed so much school I was put on a 504 plan to accommodate me and my migraines. At first I thought it made me different but then I was like hey I get all of this extra time to do stuff, and I took advantage of it and that was wrong. I know it is wrong and I regret it. I used my migraines to get out of not only school, but the paper route, and other activities I really didn't want to do. My priorities were not straight and no one knew I was taking advantage of the pain. It got to the point though where the story of "The boy who cried wolf" comes to mind. Yes I was in pain daily was it full blown migraine pain no not necessarily but when it was I got no sympathy, and I made a mess of things. I didn't get out of doing homework they just postponed deadlines, which in the long run sucked because I had to spend time finishing old assignments before anything else which means no Church dances, cell phones, hanging out with friends, etc. I made it through High School with the migraines even if I allowed them to control me. 

Now

What I wouldn't give to be painless for more than 24hrs. What I wouldn't give to not have to medicate before an event I know will cause me pain. Last year at Thanksgiving I got a full blown migraine so bad all I could do was sleep and cry it sucked. I can't rough house with my family or play sports without either medicating before hand or after. I have literally been on every pill or potion, I've done physical therapy, acupuncture. I read my scriptures I say my prayers I do not believe for a moment God is punishing me. I believe that my migraines are one of my trials I will forever face in this life. A trial that at first made me weaker but now is making me stronger. I can't always medicate or properly prevent a full blown migraine because I don't have that luxury. But every once in a while medicated or not the pain subsides for a few hours. Life in the pain is painful but I do not let identify my as a person. Yes my head hurts, it is currently throbbing as I write this but I will go on living each day because even if it is painful life is worth living. 

If these tables could talk...

When my parents got a new table the graciously gave their old kitchen table the one I grew up with to us. In our most recent move we graciously received a newer kitchen table from my brother and sister in-law. I love my tables I love their character and the stories they tell.

The one from my in-laws still has stickers from several different moves in the military. If this table could talk I am sure it would tell wonderful stories of different states, and even countries.

The one from my parents has countless scratch marks, chips in painting, weird drawings my weird brother etched into the table (thanks Bud). As I sat down to do my homework today and my hand hit the table it made me stop and think about how many times I have sat down to this table and done my homework. For over 10 years I have sat down to this exact table and worked on homework. For over 10 years this table has been a part of my life. And if it could talk what memories would it share? Would it laugh and groan at the time the family was playing spoons and the intense game caused the table to collapse on itself as several people jumped to grab a spoon. Would it fondly speak of all the dinner time meals  it shared with family, and friends? Would it feel sad about all the missed family meal times?

I know this post seems silly, but I truly love these two tables because of the stories that have been imprinted on them, and the stories that will continue to be imprinted on them.

A post about two of my favorite things: Jordans'

Jordan Blake Eliason

Today where Jordan is it is his birthday! Technically here in the US his birthday isn't until tomorrow so we are a little early but Happy Birthday Jordan. 

Jordan and I met when we were 14 years old. This will be the first birthday in 6 years I have spent without him...it is weird. I miss him like crazy, and I am so proud of the wonderful example he is to our children. I couldn't have asked for a better eternal companion and I am glad he is mine for eternity. We may miss a couple birthdays here and there because of deployments but we will have an eternity to spend together! 

Jordan Danae Jarvis

Luckily for me two of my favorite things share the same name! I admire my little sister her strength and her courage to set off on a new adventure. She is awesome! I love her and I am so very proud of her. I guess I should mention Jordan set off to attend Brigham Young University in Idaho this was her first week of classes. Jordan new this was going to be a struggle mentally for her because one thing she and I inherited from our mother is anxiety, especially separation anxiety. Jordan did not let her separation anxiety hold her back from achieving her educational goals. I am so proud of her! I can't wait to see how far she goes in life. She is one of my bestest friends, and I look up to her. She is stubborn, and can be a brat ;) but she is my stubborn brat!! 

I love my Jordans'

The Lord has blessed me with an abundance of Jordans' in my life but these two Jordans' are my favorite! And I am so grateful to have them in my life to help me through the bad, make me laugh, and just be there for me. So Happy Birthday Jordan Eliason, and Jordan Jarvis you keep living those dreams! 

My Car Accident

January 1^st 2015.

At around 4pm in the evening I decided I would drive my parents Mercedes to their house to feed their cat, and just hang out with my kids. They were in Idaho dropping my little sister off at school. I fought with myself all day about going over there you can ask Sam I seriously was like I’m going, I’m not going. And I finally decided I would for sure go.

In order to leave I needed to install Blake’s car seat into my parents car. A couple months ago I purchased Blake a new car seat called the Click tight. I am terrible at installing car seats and this new car seat basically makes it really easy for me to install and is extremely safe. It was pricey but I felt it was worth it since I struggled with getting other car seats secure enough in the car. As I was installing the car seat into the car the thought went through my mind that I should just put Blake forward facing, technically he was old enough it was just a short trip to my parents, not that big of a deal. I shrugged the thought away and continued to install the car seat rear-facing. Seriously took like three minutes to get it secured. I then went and got my children and buckled them into their safety car seats. As I look back now I can remember slowly buckling each piece of the car seat with careful precision making sure none of the pesky straps folded, and that the chest piece was in the correct place. I waited for Josh parked behind me as he installed his car seats to their vehicle they had plans to go to his parents’ house. Josh moved the car and I was off.

I took my normal route down Hilyard to get to my parents’ house. This next part is very difficult for me to write because I am tired of reliving the situation, I am tired of the memories that are burned in my brain and I am hoping that if I can write it all out get it off my chest I will be able to let go of the fear, and pain.

The Accident Approximately 4:30pm

I had just passed the light right before the University Hospital, and was traveling about 25mph my next light was green and I maintained my speed. As I entered the intersection of Hilyard and East 11^th I realized the car traveling west on East 11^th was not stopping for their designated red light. Fear engulfed me as I put my foot on the brake trying to prevent a collision, and began honking the horn. The moments between seeing the vehicle and collided with said vehicle were so quick. All I had time to do was trying and stop and honk. In an instant I struck my driver’s side front end with their driver’s side rear end. Had that car been travelling just a little bit faster, had I been able to slow down just a little bit more we would have missed each other. The airbag deployed and because my right hand had been honking the horn it caused it to fly into the air and come in contact with the rearview mirror. I remember a loud crunch of metal, I remember Blake let out an annoyed cry, and I remember a pop and powder filled the inside of the car I remember my hand throbbing with pain. My adrenaline kicked in and my only thought was my children. I got out of my vehicle and began crying yelling “please, please, my babies, somebody help me!” Over and over again I pleaded with anyone, the air, God I begged for help. I held my arm close to my chest, and cried over and over again. It felt like people just stared out me in shock like no one knew what to do. Crap I didn’t even know what to do. I only knew I needed someone to help me and my children. Because the other vehicle had not even attempted to stop but maintained its speed he had driven further down the street. I remained in the intersection begging for help, from anyone. Finally people who must have heard the crash and my screaming came to my aid. Someone let me use their phone so I could call Sam. I was coherent the whole time of the crash but would have these random bits of hysteria where I would cry and ask for help for my children. The only number that came to mind was our house phone number I spouted out the number and Josh answered I tried talking but all that came out was “accident, please come, Hilyard street” a different lady took the phone from me and began to talk with Josh. After talking to Josh she comforted me and let me know my family, and ambulances were on their way. She helped me stay focused, and held me between my wandering back and forth to check on my children, and cry about the pain in my arm. I specifically remember saying to her “My arm it hurts, that is Braden and Blake, he will be 3 in March, and he turned 1 in October. He ran a red light who does that?” She watched me struggle with my brain chatter out loud, I saw tears in her eyes, I knew she was doing everything she could to comfort me. I admire her bravery her strength, I wish I got her name. I said to her I was so glad she was there, and that I won’t remember her name but I will never forget her. The ambulance and cops arrived along with Sam. My arm was the only thing injured and the boys were fine (thank you car seats!). The EMT’s asked what happened and I told them, and then the cop came and asked what happened I told him and his response was “He said you ran the red light.” I replied “I do not run red lights, I have my babies in the car and I would never put their lives at jeopardy like that.” The cop said there were no witnesses so there was nothing he could do. I have tried finding witnesses, I have contacted business up and down the street, I have asked Facebook, I have asked the news, but no witnesses. The claim has been given to the insurance and is under investigation so my mom says I no longer need to look for witnesses.

I Remember

 I clearly remember seeing the driver of the other vehicle breeze through that light without a care in the world I clearly remember him accelerating, not trying to stop; I clearly remember him and his passenger looking onward. I clearly remember seeing his vehicle for a while, but I did not realize he wasn’t stopping until it was too late. I clearly remember trying to stop, I clearly remember honking and thinking to myself “this idiot”, I clearly remember the panic, the pain, and the continual fear. The only thing I can do now though since it seems to be out of my hands is to utilize the Atonement of Christ and let it heal me. Let the comfort of the lord ease my pain and suffering. I have driven since the accident I drive with extra extra caution. Just because you consider yourself a good driver does not mean you will never get in an accident, other people are irresponsible drivers and your good driving will not always be able to protect you.

What I have learned.

Air bags smell so gross, and aren’t really as bad as some people say. Seatbelts save lives, properly installed car seats, and buckled children more than likely will walk away from an accident with these words “Grammie and Pop Pops car popped, and now it is broke.”-Braden. God is still good. I have not lost faith because a bad thing happened. I know I was blessed that the accident could have been much worse.

Now What

Now I am letting go of this moment in my life. I am no longer going to let it rule over me. I will try my best to not flinch when I hear a balloon pop, or tear up when I think of what happened. I am stronger than this and I am no longer going to let it darken my life.

*Oh yeah and this happened too

I keep reliving my accident because people keep asking. One detail that makes me laugh is this As I cried and pleaded with anyone to help me because of my babies in the car I soon found myself surrounded by a group a people checking on me and peeking in on my kids. I was coherent the whole time with moments of hysteria. In my moments of hysteria I would cry out "my babies, my babies!" Then I would remember to breathe and I would be okay. I had this overwhelming urge to curl up in the fetal position, and go to sleep. I believe my body was trying to shut down and escape reality; I fought it because of my children. In a moment of weakness I knew I just wanted to be held, comforted, my eyes searched for solace and settled on a tall man. I am sure he was a father. "Please, please hold me!" I flung myself in his arms and clung to him like Gollum clung to his precious. It was just a moment of relief amidst the chaos. It makes me laugh because I begged some strange man to hold me; I wonder what went through his mind?

Happy Christmas Harry!

Merry Christmas from the Eliason Family!

 I thought about sending out Christmas Cards and then I was like "mmm...betta not". So instead enjoy this lovely Christmasy blogpost about our family and all we have been up to! I will do it in chronological order! 

Jordan...

 My sweet amazing husband has been deployed since June of this year. It has definitely been a learning experience for all of us. Jordan worked at sears up until his deployment. Shortly after he deployed he was promoted woohoo! He really enjoys being in the guard, and has resigned for another 6 years. We were lucky enough to go visit him in Texas along with his parents and we had a spectacular time. I truly have been blessed with amazing in-laws. I can't wait to have my husband home, and I am counting down the days to the so far non-existent coming home date. Here are some photos from our trip! 

Alex...

It is safe to say I am still weird as ever! I am still quirky and enjoy my embarrassing sense of humor. I however have made some life changing decisions this past year. One I finally decided on a major and I am super excited about it. I am majoring in Psychology and I can't wait to be out there helping people. I am back at school, and have survived the first term of the year. I couldn't have done it without the help of my supportive family, and Christ. I am trying my best to handle this deployment. It has been really difficult for me to be without Jordan. I have faced mountains, and more mountains. I know though I have only gotten to the other side because the savior was there leading me. I made the decision that it was time to quit taking my anxiety/depression medication because I felt confident enough I could handle my life without medical intervention. I have come to learn that what I feel while taking the medication is a lot different then how I feel not taking the medication. It has been intense and overwhelming but in the end I know I will feel so much better. It was really exciting to go to Texas and visit Jordan, it was my first time to Texas...everything really is bigger in Texas. Slowly but surely this deployment is going by. I am sorry so much of my writing is based on the deployment and emotions of it but seriously it is a huge part of our lives right now. Next year I am sure we will have more exciting news.

Braden...

 Braden turned 2 this year! He is officially potty trained during the days (still working on the nights). He is a ball full of energy sometimes positive, and sometimes not so positive. We are working on pushing and hitting but out of the biting phase (thank goodness). He really enjoyed his first airplane ride to see his Dad. He loves talking and introducing himself to people today at church he said this "Hello my name is Braden, I live with my mom at my house."
He can be crazy, and make me want to pull my hair out but he is sweet and caring as well. The other day I broke down in front of him and he just hugged me and said "I love you mommy." I know the deployment is hard on him, and randomly he will say "I miss daddy." but for the most part he gets through each day better than I do. If you ask him where his daddy is he will tell you "My daddy is in Afghanistan."
His vocabulary is large, and sometimes I am blown away by the conversations we have. I forget that he is a 2 year old. He makes me laugh, and brings light to my darker days.


He is really into the Ninja Turtles right now and if you ask him what his favorite color is he will reply "Mikey" his favorite song is also "Mikey". He loves One Direction especially Harry Styles(Thanks to my little sister Jordan Danae). His actually favorite songs include: What does the Fox Say(he knows all the words), I'm sexy and I know it(I know I am a terrible person but he loves it), and any One Direction song. He actually has memorized a lot of lyrics and when I am randomly belting out songs he chimes in(which isn't always a good thing) The other day I was singing "I got to stay high all the time..." and he finished with "To keep you off my mind ooooooooaaaoooooo"
He keeps me on my toes, and is a great reminder for me to be a better person. He still loves to swim, and has even jumped in the pool a few times. He used to like the slide at Splash until Jordan went too fast with him. He is a very emotional little guy. He also has a really good memory and talks about things I have forgotten. I love him so much.
Braden Quote(talking to my cell phone): Google send me to One Direction.

Blake...

What a year for Blake! He turned 1 in October! He has 8 teeth, he is walking, and starting to sign. His vocabulary is limited as this point he says "Dada" when looking at pictures of Jordan, and he cries for his "Mama" other than that it is pretty much hilarious nonsense. He can sign milk and only cares to sign milk. He is not sleeping through the night and never has! Along with eating pretty much everything he can get his hands on he is still nursing. He has crazy "Gary Bucey" hair Jordan will not allow me to cut until he gets home.
Blake has separation anxiety and will follow me around the house crying because he is afraid I will leave. Seriously I can't even go to the bathroom. He is a big cuddle bug and I love it. He also is shy around new people, but once he gets to know you, he doesn't want you to leave. He doesn't really understand what no means and we are working on him being soft with his cousins and the cats.
He really does love to eat, and enjoys all kinds of food and we he is done he will throw the left over food onto the ground. He is my little guy and weighs the same as Braden did at 9 months.

He is also my little dare devil, it is like he has no sense of fear. He climbs everything he can and then laughs at me when I come chasing after him. I swear the both of these boys will make me grey before I am 30. He has such a fun personality, and is a complete goofball to be around. He is bow-legged and it causes him to trip on his own feet a lot he is funny because once he falls he just sort of lays sprawled out on the ground for a little bit like he planned it. He will run and tackle you if you are on the ground, and he is always walking around with is arms spread wide open offering free hugs.

Until Next Time...

I am sure I left lots out, if you have any questions on how we are doing, or the boys are doing please message me or comment below and I will try my best to remember to respond back to you. Looking back at our year I know that it wouldn't have been so successful without the constant companionship of the Savior. I was thinking today in church where yes I cried again about how the Savior blesses my life. I often think of the Footprints in the Sand story and how the man looks back and only sees one set of footprints and the lord replies "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." I know during my time of trial that the Lord has carried me, has held me and allowed me to cry and weep. He has wept with me, and been a comfort. I know many of you are praying for my family, and I. Please know the prayers are felt, and they are so desperately needed. Also know when you ask me how I am doing and I reply "I am okay." I am not okay, I am far from okay. I try to be okay, and through the Atonement of Christ I make it. I may not be okay, but I make it. I wouldn't make it if I did not have the Savior, or people loving and supporting me. I love you all and hope you have a great Christmas!

The most intimate thing I miss.

My husband has been deployed for almost 100 days, and not lived in our home since June. Today I am going to get intimate with you and discuss intimacy.

My good friend Google defines intimacy as so: in·ti·ma·cy
ˈin(t)əməsē/
noun
noun: intimacy
close familiarity or friendship; closeness.
"the intimacy between a husband and wife"
synonyms: closeness, togetherness, affinity, rapport, attachment, familiarity, friendliness, friendship, amity, affection, warmth, confidence; informalchumminess
"the sisters reestablished their old intimacy"
a private cozy atmosphere.
"the room had a peaceful sense of intimacy about it"
an intimate act, especially sexual intercourse.
synonyms: sexual relations, (sexual) intercourse, sex, lovemaking; More
an intimate remark.
plural noun: intimacies
"here she was sitting swapping intimacies with a stranger"
closeness of observation or knowledge of a subject.
"he acquired an intimacy with Swahili literature"

Let us get to it and discuss which definition of intimacy I miss the most and believe to play a vital role in a relationship at least my relationship with my husband. 
close familiarity or friendship; closeness.
"the intimacy between a husband and wife"
synonyms: closeness, togetherness, affinity, rapport, attachment, familiarity, friendliness, friendship, amity, affection, warmth, confidence

You thought I was going to talk about physical intimacy didn't you? Nope I want to talk about the togetherness of intimacy. The act of laying in bed with your head on his chest, his heart beating your name and yours beats his. All the world around you vanishes and for a moment you feel you are quite possibly in a different dimension. Euphoria flows through as you breathe in sync. Troubles are lost, peace vibrates through the room. It is a spiritual experience that you don't want to spend with anyone else. Because that person your head is laying on he is your person, he gets you, loves you every step of the way, he knows when to just hold you, he knows how to comfort you keep your head above water in the storms of bad days. He gently leads you to your rightful place by his side. You are his queen, he would do anything for you and you for him. He is rooted in the gospel of Christ he understands that he wants you there with him to be received by the Lord and all his glory. He is what you miss, his intimate companionship.

I truly hoped I conveyed my feelings in a way that is understandable. You don't have to be physically intimate to be in an intimate relationship. I honestly can live without physical intimacy, it is the emotional intimacy I miss most.

That one time in college I cried...in front of my classmates

As many of you know(which is no one because seriously who reads this) I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints "Mormon", I am also a college student. This term I took a class English 107 Intro to Early Literature. Our class included reading  the Hebrew Bible, The Ramayana(which I loved), Rumi, Sappho, Aristotle, Plato, The Tale of 1001 Nights (also loved), The Yang Poets(super loved), etc. It was all pretty ancient I mean thousands of years B.C. ancient. Like the first text ever written down kind of stuff. I say written down because oral stories have been around since the beginning.
Early on in our class my teacher let us know we would be given the opportunity to share a piece of literature with the class as a presentation. I jumped at the chance and thought what a great way to share The Book of Mormon. This class was a class based on fiction works, everything we read we read as if it were fictional. I knew going into my presentation that I was going to present the writings I felt to be true, as fictional if I chose to do my presentation on The Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is full of wonderful stories, and I wanted to share those stories even if it mean I was to share them as fiction.
I wrote my presentation proposal and got the go ahead from my teacher. She said as long as I understood my presentation would be to highlight the stories and that it would be considered as fictional it was okay. I understood what she wanted me to do and I began preparing. I was to give a brief history or summary of The Book of Mormon and choose one or two stories to share with the class. I didn't want my presentation to be too long so I narrowed it down to two stories and decided between the story of Enos, and the story of Ammon.

Day of my presentation

I was really nervous which is normal for me before a presentation. I went into class as prepared as I thought I could be. I began with my short history who, what where and when. This is Lehi he and his family left Jerusalem this is a record of the people in America. A showed one picture of Joseph Smith but asked told the class not to worry about him because he wasn't important he just translated the text later on. We were looking at the stories of the text which dates to before Christ. I decided to share Enos's story, and my favorite verses to highlight the way the text was written. We talked a little bit about Joseph Campbells ideas on Mythology and how we could draw connection from that with The Book of Mormon. I finished in the appropriate amount of time a short and sweet 10 minute presentation...but then

I asked Does Anyone Have Any Questions?

A hand shot up faster than one of Katniss's arrows. "I don't feel this an appropriate text for this class since Joseph Smith translated it in the 1800's. Also there is no proof of the Book of Mormon really existing. National Geographic doesn't even acknowledge it." (My teacher approved my proposal so therefore she made it appropriate.) My heart jumped to my throat and I replied "There is actually recent documentation of bones found that correlate with happenings of The Book of Mormon, and there is the witnesses." 

Bam another arrow shot at me "There is proof that Joseph Smith forged the Book of Abraham in The Book of Mormon.--" 

I interrupt "The book of Abraham?" 

"Yeah the book of Abraham." 

"There is no book of Abraham in The Book of Mormon."(It is in the pearl of great price and we know he took someone else's words it is called the Joseph Smith translation)

Back and forth these two individuals fed off of one another and ripped into me about the authenticity of The Book of Mormon.(Remember when I said this was a fiction class, and I was presenting it as fiction...I don't think they remember that.)

Finally after about 45 minutes of a one-sided debate my teacher chimed in "I let Alex do this project. Why is it the Western Religious writings cause so much heat?"

The Part that got me

"I felt like SHE was PREACHING at me." 

 We then spent another 10 minutes discussing why people get so upset over western religious stories but can read the Ramayana and feel fine. Did you know that people out there believe what happened in the Ramayana really happened, just like I believe what happened in The Book of Mormon really happened. What is truth to one, is a fictional story to others. Who draws the line? Is it black and white or a blurry grey area. It is most definitely a blurry grey area. 

"I felt like SHE was PREACHING at me." 

That right there you guys is what got me. I no way intended to go up there and preach to them, I only wanted to share stories I grew up listening too. I think it hurt so bad because it felt like it was a jab at my character. I am not a preacher, I do not push my beliefs on anyone. I have friends, family, who are not members of the church who have left the church, and I am open minded I love them just the way they are. I know as a disciple of Christ it is not my place to judge, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ I know I am supposed to help spread the gospel, and that for me has never been by preaching. It isn't me, it has never been me, and it probably won't ever be me. And then...

I cried

Not because they were ripping my religion apart in front of me, trying to make me doubt, no I cried like a baby in front of a group of 25 college students because someone felt I was preaching to them. I sobbed and said "I am not that person, and I never intended to come off as preaching." Through ugly breaths of tears I apologized and unable to speak through the tears I took my seat. I sat through the remainder of class with tears streaming down my face as I thought about my public humiliation. I so badly wanted to get up and run out of class but I remained sniffling in my seat for the next hour of class. Two more presentations were given (appropriately 10 minutes long)  and finally class was over, I escaped quickly out the door and never looked back. I walked to my car, got inside of it and for the upteenth time I cried again like a baby. 

Looking Back

I feel like there are several things I could have done differently. One being when asked about Joseph Smith I could have politely responded "You know my presentation is just on the stories of the people of The Book of Mormon, if you would like to discuss Joseph Smith I will gladly talk with you after class."(Boom situation averted! Yay everyone claps) But no I didn't do that. I could have gone with bloody Ammon(pun intended) instead of prayerful Enos. The guys would have loved all the arms and gore. I didn't though and there is nothing I can do to change that. All I know is that it was an experience I hope to never live through again, also I am grateful for it to. It has taught me a lot about myself, others, and society too.