I guess since I have this blog now,  it would be kind of fun to create my best of the year stuff.  I like reading other’s best of the year posts, especially books, and so I decided to take a shot at my own.

Best Movie – Guardians of the Galaxy

This was a interesting choice, mainly because I didn’t really have high expectations for this movie, and I thought Interstellar would be my favorite of the year.  I did enjoy Interstellar, but the magnitude in which Guardians exceeded my expectations made it the clear choice for me.  I ended up seeing it a few times and I enjoyed it each time.  

Best Song – Demons by Imagine Dragons

Picking the best song was probably the most difficult of the choices, because I love all kinds of different music.  If they hadn’t removed it, I would have chosen Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” just for the funny 1983 Aerobic Video that it was synced up to.  However, when it comes to songs I listen to in my car, Demons was the song I listened to the most and so I think it should win.  I really like Imagine Dragons and this song was my pick for best of the year.

Best General Authority Quote – Elder Chi Hong Wong

“When we assist Him in His mission of saving souls, we too will be RESCUED in the process.”

Best Conference Talk – Jeffery R. Holland “Are We Not All Beggars?”

If you haven’t read or watched this address, I highly recommend it.  It was so meaningful to me and I will never forget it.

Link to Text: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/are-we-not-all-beggars?lang=eng

Link to Video: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/are-we-not-all-beggars?lang=eng&media=video#watch=video 

Best You Tube Video – Carl Poppa (Shout out to Nick)

I am not much into Youtube but this video was the right combination of weird and funny:

Best Books (Fantasy, Thriller, Church Book, Non-Fiction, Business) – These books weren’t necessarily published this year, but I read them this year.

• Fantasy – Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
• Thriller – Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
• Church Book – David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism by Gregory Prince
• Business – The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt

Best TV Show – Blacklist on NBC

 This is one of my favorite shows in a very long time.  James Spader’s character “Red” is so awesome.  He is so awesome, that he is some how able to overcome the awfulness of the other main Character Lizzy.  If you haven’t started this show, I highly recommend it.  

Best Moment – The birth of my son Ethan

 On January 30th, we brought our 4th child into the world and it was an awesome culmination to our child birthing years.  My wife is such a champ, and even though it was her 4th C-section, she recovered quite well and has been trying to adjust to having 4 kids under the age of 6.  I posted this blog post about that experience, and in most ways I still feel the same.

http://goodmormonlife.net/2014/01/31/we-reached-the-finish-line-and-i-am-really-scared/

Person of the Year – My Wife

 My wife has had four surgeries this year, and she had her fourth kid this year, via C-section, and she has endured those four kids with the highest amount of travel for my work in our marriage.  I was gone close to 100 days this year.  All through that she has been the always kind and patient woman that she is.  Our relationship is better than I ever thought possible and I owe almost all of that to her wonderful personality and love for me.  This year I found the perfect gift for her and I surprised her on Christmas with it.  She loves the beach so much, and earlier this year there was this awesome photo taken of her and the four kids playing on the beach.  She loved it so much she got it framed, but little did she know that I decided, with the help of my family  and hers, to get the picture commissioned into a 52″ x 40″ oil painting.  I told her I didn’t like the picture in the frame, and it made her a little sad, but she moved it to our room instead of the living room.  We have a tradition of not getting each other gifts on Christmas, but writing love letters to each other, so on Christmas morning as she was reading my letter, my family got the painting in position.  At the bottom of my letter I told her to go into my parents room for the surprise of her life, and so she reluctantly got up and walked to their room.  I will let the picture and video tell the rest.

The finished painting looked like this:

Here is the video of her reaction:

I hope all of you had a great 2014 and here is to a great 2015!!!