Happy 19th Birthday Brennan

Today is January 26th 2014 which marks the 19th birthday of my brother Brennan. I must say I am very proud to have him as huge part of the family. This guy knows how to have fun. He's a very talented singer and dancer. No wonder he gets all the ladies. I'm just a basketball coach!! 

One of my favorite memories of him is when he performed as Chip in Beauty and the Beast. It was fun to see his head in that cup and very heartwarming when he ran out to Mrs. Potts yelling, "mama, mama, I'm human again!!!"

Brennan has been in a great number of other performances such as Titanic the Musical, All Shook Up and has had the lead role as Oliver in Oliver Twist! 

He never was that much into sports as I was but he still managed to make conversation about it. He still didn't mind watching the games with J.J. and I. 

He may be the shortest brother out of the Walters boys but he sure has a big love and compassion for others. Only one more year till he has lived 2 decades. Where did all the years go??? 

How lucky am I?

I have constantly been thinking about how lucky I am. Growing up, so many doors were shut on me. I was told I had limitations. I was warned about how slow things would come to me if they would ever come at all.

Now I look at myself at age 20 almost 21. Here's a brief list of all my accomplishments I have made so far that at one time, many thought would come much later, if ever at all.

1. Work in the Special Ed Department at SCHS
2. Coaching Varsity Woman's Basketball as an Assistant
3. Got my Driver's Permit
4. Have gone a full year so far off medication.
5. Dixie Spirit Award
6. Mr. Dixie Pageant
7. Started Coaching Basketball at age 15
8. Mr. Warrior runner-up
9. SC Warrior Spirit award
10. Graduated High School in 2011
11. Moved out of my mom's at age 19
12. Freshmen Basketball Team Shooting Guard

So as you can see, I've accomplished many things so far. My life has been going up and up and up the last 5 years. I truly felt that things started going up when Dwain Schallenberger accepted me on the team. He was, who I personally felt, the first person to tell me I could do anything. He didn't believe I had as many limitations as people or myself believed I had.

 After I graduated High School, things started going down again. I developed a medical condition that I felt was fatal. Not being able to have full control of my body for a year and a half was the worst thing I ever experienced. However, I am grateful that illness happened. If it hadn't happened, I don't think I would have as much faith and trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as I do now. While I was dealing with those Tourette's, I was constantly going from doctor to doctor and just getting worse. Jon Graf came in and gave me great advice. I won't give out all the details of what he told me because I don't want to start any conspiracy, but it was all about putting trust in Christ and myself as well. If you want to know more details, feel free to ask me personally.

For a while, I didn't take his advice. It sounded to risky and to good to be true. However a lot like a hopeful Father, he kept coming back. He never quit loving me and hoping the best for me. Eventually I got so sick that I couldn't hold food in my stomach. I read Mark 5 in the bible and read about that woman who had a blood related illness. She had a similar story to me getting worse and worse. She told herself if she can just touch Christ's clothes, she could be whole again. Jesus recognized even though he was constantly bumped and rubbed going through that ally. His disciples told him he was being bumped constantly and asked "why was this touch so different". This woman had faith and intended to reach for him and being the loving Savior he is recognized through her faith. "Thy faith has made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." That revealed to me personally that I needed to do the same thing. He wasn't there physically but I practiced faith with help from Jon's father Jan, that he is still there waiting to be reached to spiritually. When I practiced this and went through all the steps Jan told me to go through, the tourette's, the anxiety disorder, and anything else seemed to stop as if someone flicked a light switch and turned them off. Since that point of my life, I have never denied Christ and how powerful he truly is. I have developed a testimony in him. I feel I can't deny him for that moment I had with him. I can't say I haven't questioned certain teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but I never questioned, is Christ really there. I know he is. I know he loves me to no end and is ready to listen to my prayers if I continue to be faithful.

Now when I look at myself in the mirror, not to sound like Mulan or anything, I see a man who is happy, confident, faithful, and is ready to face any challenge that faces him while a while ago, I would've, figuratively speaking, bowed down to that challenge out of fear that I was incapable of doing such things.  I am constantly climbing the mountain. The rough parts don't scare me any more. Instead I work harder because I've seen the big picture of what I want to accomplish and that goal motivates me to keep going. One of those is college. I have my moments where I want to put off that homework assignment but when I remember why I'm there, I choose to keep going.

So am I a lucky person? I'd say I'm more blessed than lucky. This was mean't to happen! Heavenly Father was just waiting for the right moment to bring these opportunities.

Life is Truly Amazing

I don't have too much to be ungrateful for right now. My life has truly been amazing for quite a while and it's only getting more amazing if I keep making the right decisions. I currently work in the Special Ed Department and coach Woman's Basketball as an assistant at Snow Canyon High School, and I do that while attending Dixie State University. I can't ask for much more than that right now.

I honestly feel I've turned from a greedy, selfish, and dishonest young boy to a enjoyable, loving, and goal-driven man who I can be proud to be. I still have weaknesses I need to work on like I'm still too hard on myself when I make mistakes but not as much as I used to be at the same time. I feel I've developed a true testimony in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and am grateful for all the blessings he has brought to me. I hope as I continue moving forward that I can become more the man he wants me to become. I feel I'm on that right road but there can still be improvements. I am grateful for all my talent's. They will get me to places if I keep using them the right way.

I have a friend who has helped me find that road and am proud to call him my 2nd father. Jon Graf is a man who not only is a role model to me but also my hero for he helped me find my true potential and he's constantly helping me continue moving forward. I truly appreciate him.

I have a basketball team full of amazing young woman who I truly care and admire for. They are role models to me as well. They are examples of how to have fun in life with hard work and perseverance. I truly enjoy coaching them.

I work with students in the special ed department who truly mean the world to me. I admire their uniqueness among each other. Every one is so different in there own way that I can't help but love them for who they are. They're priceless children of God and I am grateful that I have the privilege and opportunity to be a part of there live's  and help them become closer to what they want or even just simply be there friend. It doesn't matter how mean or nice one of them are, they are so special in there own way, that I can't help but care about each of them.

I enjoy my roommates in there own way as well. They are some of my best friends. Some I've know longer than others. I enjoy going to the store, watching Regular Show, trading Pokemon or simply just talking to them.

I have two great parents who have gone through there fair share of struggles. My Mom is the most loyal and selfless person I know. She goes through so much pain to help others become what they want to be and she's very supportive. She does that as an educator as well as being a Mom and she has a lot of respect for that. My Dad is one I can go to for a fun conversation about sports and passions such as basketball. He's had his struggles but I know regardless of what happens, he still loves me to no end. He's proud of me and I'm proud he's my Dad.

I have two awesome fun Step Parents who love me very much as well. Jen always knows how to make me feel special and I can talk to her about literally anything because we just have fun like that and I know she'll understand. She taught me how to make a special chip dip and makes good salsa. She gives very magical hugs as well. One of my favorite time's with her was when we went walked around the town and just trusted each other to talk about whatever we wanted. I felt we truly got close at that time for the reason that no matter how different our perspectives were, we still loved each other like we knew the other forever. Robert my step father is truly one I can call my best friend. Him and I are more similar than you could expect a stepson and stepfather to be. We both enjoy watching sports such as football, basketball, and baseball. We both enjoy 70's and 80's rock and roll music such as Rush, Led Zeppelin, Boston, etc. We both have similar food interests such as Mexican, steak and I still remember those fun contests when we'd eat a Jalapeno and the first one to shed a tear was the loser. We give fist bumps to each other and it's even more special of a time when we give a hug. I am grateful to have him in my life.

I've got great leaders in my life who have guided and cared about me to become who I want. Dwain Schallenberger is a huge one of those. I honestly wouldn't be coaching basketball if it weren't for him, in fact I still wonder who I'd be right now if he hadn't put me on that team and cut me. A lot of things sure would have been different.

I've got 3 enjoyable brothers who are so very different but at the same time very much the same. J.J. is the one that keeps me wanting to get better but that's simply for sibling rivalry reasons. If he gets better at that jump shot, I naturally want to see if I can top him. He is such a hard worker and smart person that I feel he's going to make it far in life. Brennan is a genuine character. He loves to throw out compliments. He is so talented in singing and dancing. I'm proud of him for all that he's accomplished so far and pray that he'll keep accomplishing more as life goes on. Parker with out a doubt loves his family. He is always looking for a way to help people and sometimes I feel like he tries to hard but I forget at those times, he's just trying to show he genuinely loves me and the rest of our family. He is an example of a Christ-like character.

So life is just amazing and I'm proud to have so many blessings in my life that continue helping me move forward. Couldn't ask for it any other way.