Ricky’s Page

I just had a random thought tonight that I wanted to write about. It occurred to me today that there is a difference between personality and character. I learned from a friend of mine from long ago, named Shawn, that personality has a lot to do with the body God has given you. Or more specifically your brain chemistry. Shawn had struggled with bipolar disorder ever since the death of his twin sister several years before i met him. He was one of the most shy people I’ve ever known. I got to know him a little on the same summer missions project that Heather and I met on back in 2001. There were many people there also on the summer missions project with very strong and outgoing personalities. Shawn said there had been times when his brain chemistry was different and he was just as outgoing or even moreso than anyone on our project. But he clearly was not like that at all when I knew him. He was the most behind the scenes, quiet and calm guy in our entire group. So now I understand that a person’s personality and character aren’t necessarily the same thing. It may take effort to discern the person’s character, where their personality is pretty easy to find out. I suspect this might be why alot of the first impressions I get of people are often way off. i kind of judge their character by their personality before I really know them.

I really like Christmas time.  Heather just loves to decorate the house.  She’s got little trees up all over the house, and a big tree in the corner, a garland above the window, all with little lights in them.  And a whole host of ornaments on that tree.  And since our wedding was in November, we recieved plenty of “christmas items” as wedding gifts.  Including special Christmas mugs with little matching spoons.  And Christmas plates.  So we use all of those!  We do hot chocolate quite regularly.  Or should I say I do hot chocolate quire regularly.  Heather is definitely the more disciplined side of our marriage.  I am a succer for sweets, and hot cocoa.  I have been delivering pizzas as a part time job. I just started doing that.  The night I first did it it was snowing.  And I was cruising around town, listening to Christmas music, checkin’ out the lights on peoples’ houses and bringing people pizza.  It’s fun because everyone is excited when you show up.  Especially kids.  It’s a rough job I know.

So what have we been doing here at SMAT for Christmas?  Welding, of course.  I learned how to weld briefly in Mr. Eckhardt’s class in high school.  But we have really been doing all kinds of welding around here.  With gas, with electricity.  I actually welded Heather a little ornament for the tree for practice.  (since it was practice, I don’t know know if it’s good enough to get the “stamp of approval” from Heather).  It might end up in the trash bin.  But at least I tried.

For Christmas we are headed out to Arizona.  I am excited because it will be the first time in years I’ve gotten to go spend an extended time with my family in Payson.  Last April we went out for Danny’s wedding, but I was only in Payson for an evening.  This time we’re there for a week.  Just hanging out with everyone, playing with the animals, etc.  We are bringing a guy from school here with us to Arizona.  His name is Matthias (pron matt-ee-us).  He is from Germany, so he can’t get home for Christmas.  So he’s going with us!  I am excited.  He sits next to me in class and he’s a great guy.