Secret to a Happy Life

Erik Gray's Journals/pictures

#journalgems

#qotd  (quote of the day)

Snapchat 

 

The moments I live for

Erik Gray's Journals/Pictures

#journalgems

 

A Winning Attitude

Erik Gray's journals

#journalgems

written August, 2015

 

One of my biggest realizations with cancer is that having a bad attitude isn’t going to help me in any way. In fact, the only thing that a bad attitude will do is make things worse. I’ve come to realize that cancer “is what it is”, but I’ll make the best with what I’ve been given. I’ve learned that it’s the reaction to adversity that defines character. Although it’s cliché, there is nothing false about the ideal that attitude is everything. For me, attitude is the number one indicator of who we are, how we react to adversity, and what we can become. A winning attitude will go a long way.

I Choose God

 

Erik Gray's journals

#journalgems

written by Erik, August 2015

Because of my experiences with cancer and student leadership, I know that people look at me constantly. 

I have made an effort to post uplifting pictures, quotes, and status'. 

Two years ago, I started a blog to write down all my cancer experiences and how they and the gospel have ultimately blessed my life. I've seen my blog reach many different parts of the country, as well as many countries around the world. 

I have come to understand that technology is a strong aspect of life today; what I put on my Facebook page matters. 

There is so much that can come from the internet, whether it be good or bad. 

By posting uplifting material on my blog and social media pages, I choose good; and by choosing good, I choose God.

Variety is the Spice of Life

 

Erik Gray's journals

#journalgems

Written August 2015

SwissGear Scholarship Essay: What Makes a Great Backpack
By Erik Gray

People are not meant to do the same thing day in and day out. No one that I know could work seven days a week for years on end. I could not eat the same food every day. In fact, I could not even eat the same food or more than one meal throughout the day. The bottom line: we need variety. We go to school, we work, we have a family, we play sports. What we do throughout the day is different, and that is the great truth about us. Variety is the spice of life.

Just like our human nature to crave variety, a good backpack is one that can be used for a variety of different activities. I wake up in the morning and grab my backpack that has my school supplies in it. After school, I empty it and put sports gear in it and head off to basketball practice. On Saturday, I’ll empty it [again] of whatever was in it and put in snacks, water bottles, and an extra pair of socks for my water hike today. Next week, I’ll be using it to pack my clothes for my weekend trip home. From laptop to sweaty basketball socks to hiking gear- the best backpack can be used for anything, anytime.

True Character, Dignity & Optimism

Erik Gray's journals

#journalgems

written by Erik, March 2015

An excerpt from a scholarship letter

In December 2009, when I was 15-years-old, I was diagnosed with a form of Stage IV cancer in my salivary glands called Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma. 

It is not extremely life-threatening, but since that time, I have had ten surgeries on my neck ranging from biopsies to the replacement of the right half of my jaw, radiation twice, and I am currently on my second round of chemotherapy. 

Throughout my cancer experiences, I served as a student body officer, graduated high school with 24 college credits, maintained good grades through my three semesters at Southern Utah University, and received an Associate’s degree. 

At the end of my first semester, I faced the weight of an unexpected major surgery only a day after my last final. I have faced what many call “extreme adversity”, with what I believe as true character, dignity, and optimism. 

These characteristics will help me through the rest of my life in all aspects as a college student, businessman, husband, father, and person. 

I wouldn’t trade the growth and lessons I’ve experienced for anything.

Move Forward

Erik Gray's journals

#journalgems

written by Erik, 2015

Cancer

is a word that is sometimes not associated with winning, 

but that has never been an option for me. 

In fact, 

every day I choose to move forward is winning.

Erik Gray's journals

#journalgems

written January, 2017

AUGUST 2016 Last weekend in Logan before moving back home.

Sunday I went to church. Everyone in the ward wore dark blue ribbons. Mary Yohem had set it up... OH MY HECK I LOVE HER SO MUCH. I’ll talk about her in a minute. :) They knew I was moving home and that it was my last Sunday.

I got the opportunity to bless and serve the Sacrament that day. What a neat opportunity to be able to do it on my last Sunday. :] 

After the third hour lesson, Mary, Bronte, and a few others called me up, explained what was up with me and gave me a nice shoutout, and presented me with a loving sign that a lot of the ward had signed. :’) So touched. I remember back in the spring when I was in the 31^st ward (the ward I was in at Pine View), I knew I’d be moving back in the fall and talked with the Bishop and there was an idea that I could just keep my records in the ward for that summer, but I eventually decided to just move my records to the 18^th ward, where I would be at with Yellow House and Darwin Avenue. Which was a good move. It would have been weirder and harder and more awkward if I would’ve not been in the ward. AND THE 18^th WARD WAS SOOOOOOOOOO AWESOME AND SO INCREDIBLE. And living on Darwin Avenue in general? Ahh. Seriously. Perfect place.

That's all for my journaling tonight! Glad I'm doing this, I don't want these insights to be forgotten. Especially because these insights and these feelings I've felt are SO real, and there is no way I can deny the truthfulness of the gospel the Savior, everything about the gospel. Goodnight, journal. SOO glad I'm writing down my thoughts. :)                                                   ~Erik Gray

40 Days

Erik Gray's Journals/Computer files
#journalgems

Houston University Branch 40 Days Closer to Christ   Welcome to the 40 Days Closer to Christ Program.  We hope that this will aid in your personal scripture study as you seek to come closer to your Savior.  As you read and ponder each scripture, it may help you to write down a few thoughts in a journal.	Day 1   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 11:12-14   Thought for the day: “Character is the ability to carry out a decision after the emotion of making the decision is past.”   Scripture Study: 1 Nephi 1-10   Mark and Ponder: 1 Nephi 3:7	Day 2   Scriptural thought  for the day: D&C 50:29-30   Thought for the day: “Faith is a gift of God; it is the fruitage of righteous living.  It does not come to us by our command but is the result of doing the will of our Heavenly Father.” -  George A. Smith   Scripture Study: 1 Nephi 11-15   Mark and Ponder: 1 Nephi 15:34	Day 3   Scriptural thought for the day: Matthew 4:3-4   Thought for the day: “Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you chose them as your guide, and following them ,you reach your destiny.” - Carl Schurtz   Scripture Study: 1 Nephi 16-18   Mark and Ponder: 1 Nephi 19:23
Day 4   Scriptural thought for the day: Matthew 21:21 Thought for the day: “The best way to get rested is to speed up.  When we get ahead of our work, we love it and it becomes easy.  When it gets ahead of us, we hate it and it becomes difficult.  A winner at the end of a race is never tired; he’s ready to go again.  The tired business man is the man whose business is not successful.”   Scripture Study: 1 Nephi 19 – 2 Nephi 1 Mark and Ponder: 2 Nephi 2:11	Day 5   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 121:45-46   Thought for the day: “Faith is a divine gift to all men to receive, if only their attitude and life will permit it’s reception.”   Scripture Study: 2 Nephi 2-6   Mark and Ponder: 2 Nephi 2:25	Day 6   Scriptural thought for the day: Deuteronomy 30:19-20   Thought for the day: “Where one door shuts, another opens.  We come to an end amd find a beginning.  Often we worry about arriving at an end with too little faith in what follows.” - Don Quixote   Scripture Study: 2 Nephi 7-11   Mark and Ponder: 2 Nephi 2:27	Day 7   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 76:9-10   Thought for the day: “To believe only possibilities is no faith but mere philosophy” – Sir Thomas Brown   Scripture Study: 2 Nephi 12-21   Mark and Ponder: 2 Nephi 9:28-29   Are you still on target?  Go back to the definition of character on day 1 and recommit yourself as neeeded.
Day 8   Scriptural thought for the day: 1 John 5:3   Thought for the day: “We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not figures on a dial.  We should count time by heart throbs.  He most lives who thinks most – feels the noblest – acts the best.”   Scripture Study: 2 Nephi 22-33   Mark and Ponder: 2 Nephi 28:8-9	Day 9   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 39:20-23   Thought for the day: “The success of our work is determined by the number of true converts we lead into baptism.”   Scripture Study: Jacob 1-5   Mark and Ponder: 2 Nephi 31:13	Day 10   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 82:10   Thought for the day: “My faith is, when we have done all we can, then the lord is under obligation, and will not disappoint the faithful; he will perform the rest.” - Brigham Young   Scripture Study: Jacob 6-Omni   Mark and Ponder: 2 Nephi 31:20	Day 11   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 18:18-19   Thought for the day: “The faithful will exercise faith and pray always for all who are in reach of the Lord, the God desire good to all..” - Brigham Young   Scripture Study: Words of Mormon – Mosiah 3   Mark and Ponder: 2 Nephi 32:8-9
Challenge!   Go the extra mile this week in your church assignments.  Find out how the people you home or visit teach are doing, and discover what you can do to make their lives easier.  Find a way to magnify your other callings that you hadn’t considered before.	Day 12   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 75:3,5   Thought for the day: “ The happiness of a man (or woman) does not consist in the abscence but in the mastery of his passions.” - Alfred Lord Tennyson   Scripture Study: Mosiah 4-9   Mark and Ponder: Jacon 2:18-19	Day 13   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 38:40-41   Thought for the day: “Successful people always do more than they are expected to do.”   Scripture Study: Mosiah 10-15   Mark and Ponder: Mosiah 2:17	Day 14   Scriptural thought for the day: 1 Corinthians 2:14-15   Thought for the day: “Seek not for greatness, but for truth, and you will find both.”   Scripture Study: Mosiah 16-22   Mark and Ponder: Mosiah 3:19   Do you have a current temple recommend?  Even unendowed members can carry a limited use recommend.
Day 15   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 50: 19-20   Thought for the day: “In our ante-mortal state, we walked by sight.  Then we knew God.  We lived with him.  He was our Father, our teacher.  This earth life is intended as a place where we might learn to walk just a little way by faith.” - Sterling W. Still   Scripture Study: Mosiah 23-29   Mark and Ponder: Mosiah 4:27	Challenge!   Study from the topical guide and other reference materials all you can on the subject of CHARITY.  Use the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price as primary references.  Find ways to be more charitable to those in your life.	Day 16   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 59: 9-11   Thought for the day: “ A great deal has been said about giving your life for the work, not in death but in living day by day.  It is so easy sometimes to die; it is hard sometimes to live the principles for which we stand...I believe it is far more important to live for our faith than to die for our faith.” - Mark E. Petersen   Scripture Study: Alma 1-5   Mark and Ponder: Mosiah 4:30	Day 17   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 38:40-41   Thought for the day: “Implied faith and confidence in God is for you and me to do everything we can to sustain and preserve ourselves; and the community that works together, heart and hand, to accomplish this, their efforts will be like the efforts of one man. – Brigham Young   Scripture Study: Alma 6-10   Mark and Ponder: Alma 4:10
Day 18   Scriptural thought for the day: Romans 1:16   Thought for the day: “Are you full of faith?  You can tell whether I am or not by looking at me.  You can tell whether the Brethren who have been speaking to you are full of faith in the gospoel by the look of their countenances.  You can see this if there is not a word spoken.”  - Brigham Young   Scripture Study: Alma 11-14   Mark and Ponder: Alma 5:14	Day 19   Scriptural thought for the day: Acts 5:32   Thought for the day: “Faith comes by hearing the words of God, through the testimony of the servants of God; that testimony is always atended by the Spirit of propecy and revelation.” - Joseph Smith   Scripture Study: Alma 15-19   Mark and Ponder: Alma 5:46	Day 20   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 112:34   Thought for the day: “The degree of faith possessed by any man depends not upon the extent of his knowledge, but on the certainty of his knowledge, which leads its possesor to works corresponding to his knowledge.” - Joseph Smith   Scripture Study: Alma 20-24   Mark and Ponder: Alma 11:40	Day 21   Scriptural thought for the day: 2 Corinthians 3:18   Thought for the day: “The assurance of resurrection gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love. Because of the resurrection, we know that these mortal deficiencies are only temporary!” - Dallin H. Oaks   Scripture Study: Alma 25-29   Mark and Ponder: Alma 11:43
Day 22   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 15:6   Thought for the day: “It is faith in the commands of the Almighty, and our responsibility as his covenant children, the knowledge that God lives and loves his children, and the conviction that it is our mission to build and save men everywhere.” -Ezra Taft Benson   Scripture Study: Alma 30-36   Mark and Ponder: Alma 30:60	Day 23   Scriptural thought for the day: Hebrews 11:1   Thought for the day: “Faith is a gift of God and comes to each and all of us who serve God and supplicate Him for the guidance of His Spirit.  By doing our duty, faith increases until it becomes perfect knowledge." -Heber J. Grant   Scripture Study: Alma 37-41   Mark and Ponder: Alma 32:21	Day 24   Scriptural thought for the day: James 5:16   Thought for the day: “Satan wants us to be miserable as he is. And he knows that we can only have that true happiness if we are washed clean through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, by deep and continuing repentance.” - Henry B. Eyring   Scripture Study: Alma 42-44   Mark and Ponder: Alma 34:32-34	Day 25   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 64:33   Thought for the day: “It is so likewise with evil things. Small acts of dishonesty, small acts of an immoral nature, small outbursts of anger can grow into great and terrible things.” - Gordon B. Hinckley   Scripture Study: Alma 42-44   Mark and Ponder: Alma 37:6-7
Day 26   Scriptural thought for the day: James 1:5-6   Thought for the day: “The world wil turn aside for the young man who knows where he is going.”   Scripture Study: Alma 51-54   Mark and Ponder: Alma 37:35-37	Challenge!   Study from the topical guide and other reference materials all you can on the subject of FAITH.  Use the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price as primary references.  Ponder your own faith in light of what you’ve discovered and seek to make it stronger.	Day 27 Scriptural thought for the day: 2 Nephi 28: 21-22   Thought for the day: “Who are we going to believe in our search for happiness and well-being? Will it be Satan, the author of all lies and deceit, whose single objective is to destroy us? Or are we going to believe a loving Heavenly Father, who is the source of all truth and happiness, whose sole objective is rewarding us with His eternal love and joy?” - Richard C. Edgley   Scripture Study: Alma 55-58   Mark and Ponder: Alma 41:10-11	Day 28   Scriptural thought for the day: Matthew 23:25-26   Thought for the day: “We may compare favorably with those who bear obvious signs of sin, because many of our foibles remain private and hidden. Then, following condemnation of the designated villain, we see no need to work on our own imperfections that seem to have diminished into insignificance. - Mark D. Chamberlain   Scripture Study: Alma 59-63   Mark and Ponder: Alma 60:23
Day 29 Scriptural thought for the day: Matthew 7:24-27   Thought for the day: “If our house is built upon a rock with the brick and mortar of good works, it will withstand the storms and perils of life and preserve us for an eternal inheritance hereafter. If it is built upon the sands of evil with the rusty nails and rotting timber of carnal things, it will be destroyed.” - Bruce R. McConkie   Scripture Study: Helaman 1-9   Mark and Ponder: Helaman 5:12	Day 30   Scriptural thought for the day: Mosiah 24:15-16   Thought for the day: “Faith in God cannot of course be other than personal.  It must be yours; it must be mine; and to be effective, must spring from the mind and heart.  Every man will do well to pray with Emerson: O God make me willing to do thy will.” - David O. McKay   Scripture Study: Helaman 10-14   Mark and Ponder: Helaman 10:4-5	Day 31 Scriptural thought for the day: Luke 24:39-40   Thought for the day: “We have the witness of the Book of Mormon; we also have the declarations of the Prophet Joseph Smith from his experience that both the Father and the Son have bodies of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s.” - Richard D. Draper   Scripture Study: Helaman 15 – 3 Nephi 4   Mark and Ponder: 3 Nephi 11:14-15	Day 32   Scriptural thought for the day: Matthew 5:25   Thought for the day: “Quarrel not at all. No man resolved to make the most of himself can spare time for personal contention. … Better give your path to a dog than be bitten by him.” - Abraham Lincoln   Scripture Study: 3 Nephi 5-10   Mark and Ponder: 3 Nephi 11:29
Challenge!   Next Fast Sunday strive to fast and pray for a spiritual experience that you may not be living so as to be able to receive.  Pray for a change of heart and the ability to repent and forsake whatever sin might be plagueing you.	Day 33   Scriptural thought for the day: Matthew 5:48   Thought for the day: “We may not achieve our ideals in a day, but like stars, they serve to guide us on our way.”   Scripture Study: 3 Nephi 11-16   Mark and Ponder: 3 Nephi 12:48	Day 34   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 115:4   Thought for the day: “Surely every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord is precious. So each word in this name must be important—divinely designated for a reason.” - Russel M. Nelson   Scripture Study: 3 Nephi 17-21   Mark and Ponder: 3 Nephi 27:8	Day 35   Scriptural thought for the day: 2 Corinthians 7:9-10   Thought for the day: “The gospel plan is the plan by which men are brought to a fulness of joy. This is the first concept I wish to stress: The gospel principles are the steps and guidelines that will help us find true happiness and joy.” - Ezra Taft Benson   Scripture Study: 3 Nephi 22-29   Mark and Ponder: Mormon 2:13-14
Day 36   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 12:8   Thought for the day: “How prudently most men sink into nameless graves, while now and then a few forget themselves into immortality” - William Jennings Bryan   Scripture Study: 4 Nephi – Mormon 8   Mark and Ponder: Ether 12:27	Day 37   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 101:38   Thought for the day: “Jesus will not be found by crusades of men. Jesus will not be found in councils of debate. The formula for finding Jesus has always been and ever will be the same—the earnest and sincere prayer of a humble and pure heart.” - Thomas S. Monson   Scripture Study: Mormon 9 – Ether 3   Mark and Ponder: Ether 12:41	Day 38   Scriptural thought for the day: 1 Corinthians 1:9-10   Thought for the day: “We all have an inner braking system that will stop us before we follow Satan too far down the wrong road. It is the still, small voice which is within us. But once we have succumbed, our stopping mechanism becomes weak and ineffective.” - James E. Faust   Scripture Study: Ether 4-10   Mark and Ponder: Moroni 7:16-17	Challenge!   Study from the topical guide and other reference materials all you can on the subject of CHANGE.  Use the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price as primary references.  Have you received the “mighty change” in yourself since you have been “lengthening your stride”?
Day 39   Scriptural thought for the day: D&C 29:46-47   Thought for the day: “Little children shall be saved. They are alive in Christ and shall have eternal life. For them the family unit will continue, and the fulness of exaltation is theirs. No blessing shall be withheld. They shall rise in immortal glory, grow to full maturity, and live forever in the highest heaven of the celestial kingdom.” - Bruce R. McConkie   Scripture Study: Ether 11-15   Mark and Ponder: Moroni 8:9-12	Day 40   Scriptural thought for the day: Matthew 7:7-8   Thought for the day: “All great ages have been ages of belief.  I mean when there was any extraordinary power of performance, when great national movemens began, when arts appeared, when heroes existed, when poems were made, the human soul was in earnest.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson   Scripture Study: Moroni 1-10   Mark and Ponder: Moroni 10:4-5	Final Challenge!   Look back over the last 40 days.  Have you felt yourself come closer to Christ as you have read his teachings? Ponder his love for you, and his role in your life.  As you do, remember all that he sacrificed for you in order for you to return and be with him and our Father for eternity.	Now that you have completed this 40-day study program, we hope that you have gained the knowledge and confidence necessary to share what you have learned with someone who does not have the blessings of the Gospel in their life.   Houston University Branch Relief Society Presidency

 

Erik Gray's journals

#journalgems

a youth speaker talk for Sacarament meeting

written by Erik, September 20, 2009 (3 months before cancer diagnosis)

“WHEREFORE, STAND YE IN HOLY PLACES, AND BE NOT MOVED”

                                                            Erik Gray. 9/20

The topic I’ve been asked to speak on today is found in D&C 87:8, which reads: “Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved.” When I first thought about this topic, there are two parts in it. The first is to  “stand ye in holy places.”

Sister Sharon G. Larsen, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, had a talk printed in the July 2002 Liahona, titled: “Standing in Holy Places”. I would like to read the opening 4 paragraphs from her talk.

 

READ 1

             When we are in holy places, we are protected from the almost overwhelming commotion of the world. The prophet Moroni was surrounded by wickedness and the Lamanites waiting to kill anything in their path. He was alone in hiding for almost 20 years. Wow, that is such a long period of loneliness! But from his testimony and counsel in the last few chapters of the Book of Mormon tell us he was in the company of angels and the Holy Ghost. He was not alone.

            Sometimes when we are supposed by people, even our friends, who are making the wrong choices, sometimes we have to stand alone. I’d like to read another excerpt from Sister Larson’s talk

 READ 2

             Temples are probably the most holy places on the Earth today. I am not old enough to go through the temple, but from the opportunities I have had to do baptisms for the dead, the feelings from being inside the temple are the greatest there is.

             The second part of my topic is to “be not moved”. For the last two years I have had the opportunity to attend a week-long program called “Especially For Youth” or EFY. The theme for EFY 2008 was to “be steadfast and immovable.” The theme, being found in Mosiah 5:15, reads this.

 READ MOSIAH 5:15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.

             What does being immovable mean? To keep our standards, and to not give in to temptation. One of my friends came up with an analogy to “be not moved” against temptation. Here’s her story.

            Being 15, my friend had her permit. After a track meet in St. George, she got to drive with her dad being in the front seat. While coming home on the freeway, she said that out of nowhere, a deer jumped onto the road, her dad helped her swerve out of the way, but the black Expedition rolled. Except for a couple scratches, bruises and some stitches, my friend and her parents were fine.

            Now how does this apply to being immovable? The answer, my friend said, is wearing your seat belt! Your seat belt is holding your standards high, following them, and being immovable against them. When temptation, or the crash, comes along, your seat belt keeps you safe against the temptation. If she hadn’t been wearing her seat belt, she could’ve been severely injured. If we don’t have standards set, we can be easily moved.

            I’d like to close with my testimony. 

6 years

Erik Gray's journals
Written by Erik Fall 2016
#journalgems

Honestly, I'm prepared for anything to happen.

I'm sitting at a crossroad of two pretty different roads.

In one direction, my cancer's back.

I have to get more surgeries, I have more to deal with,

and I have this life up in Logan to worry about.

 

In the other direction, everything is still clear

I get to "go on with life"

 

There's a lot of uncertainty for the moment,

but there are some things I do know:

Jesus Christ lives.

I will never be alone in all that do.

Family can be forever.

PEACE is seriously shining through with this gospel.

Things happen for a reason.

LOVE and MISS you Erik, my boy... 6 years in a few days....

                                                     love mom

Birthday

Erik Gray's journals 

A favorite of mine (Jolene)

A blogpost written by Erik Dec 2016

#journalgems

And it's given me so many emotions- scared, frustrated, angry, positive, believing, trusting, hoping. I've kind of been prepared for this outcome since July, but still--- it's here, and it's real.

 But what a joy it is for me to look back and smile. I've lived a successful life, in my eyes. I've made some big mistakes, but I've also made some big victories. I served a mission for the Lord, I've been able to grow in a loving family, I've been able to help my family grow, and I've accomplished so many things in both the spiritual and "Carpe Diem" aspect. I have a testimony of the gospel and that God is real. I know that the Plan of Salvation is real and that this life isn't it. I can't imagine how much harder everything would be if I didn't believe in a hereafter.

 Don't look at my life and think of how unfair this is. Please. Look at my life and let it be an example to go and do something today that makes you happy. :) Life is all about learning and growing, relying on the Spirit and enjoying the journey along the way.

 

So until next time, keep running.

🙌🎺🎉HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIK! 

We know you're fine and happy and will have the best birthday ever, because you'll make it so! 

Just like you always did every year while on earth!