Wrong

Since June 3rd was the last time I blogged I figured it was about time to write again. I'm not sure why I stopped blogging, but here I am more than six months later blogging.

Six months is a long time and yet I can't think of what to blog about it. I'm sure I had great thoughts and ideas in those six months that would make great posts.

Here's something I've been thinking about. In May it will mark five years since my graduation from high school. Five years. Half a decade. I think about where I was then and where I am now. And I'm stinkin' proud of myself. I was so naive. Man, I thought I was the bees knees. Man, was I wrong. I thought a lot of things that were wrong.

I thought I would be friends with my friends in high school forever. I remember Dr. Fullmer telling us that we probably wouldn't be friends with the friends we had then after high school and for some us we would never see each other again. And I remember thinking you're wrong, Dr. Fullmer, I will be friends with these people forever! It turns out I was wrong. Now I find myself avoiding people I knew in high school. Not because I don't want to talk to them or see them, but because I'm a different person now than I was then. A whole different person. And it's okay that I'm not friends with my friends from high school. In fact, it's good in a way.

I thought I would be married maybe with a baby by the time my five year reunion came around. A lot, probably most, of the people I know from high school are married with kids. And most of them have blogs where they record their love for their husbands and children. They write about how cute their newborns smile is or how incredible their husband is. They may write about how fast their children are growing, their first word, their first step. After high school you're expected to go to college, get married, and start a family. Somehow being married and having kids has became a stigma of success. Of course I want those things and I look forward with anticipation to blogging about my husband and kids. But I don't base how successful I feel about my life on that.

I thought a lot more things that were wrong that don't need to be hashed out here. My point is that even though where I thought I would be or where society thinks I need to be I am proud of myself. And I'm grateful I'm here and not there. Right now I'm content. I'm successful. I'm proud of myself. I'm glad I was wrong. I'm glad I'm a whole different person now. Being wrong turned out to be right.

Will I go to my five year reunion like I always said I would? Probably not. Just another thing I was wrong about.

The Good Stuff

I'm sure many of you have seen this video. But watch it again anyway. We all need some inspiration.

Some Sunday inspiration for us all:

Caved

Okay, okay, I was afraid of this happening. I couldn't stay away. I caved.

But I have decided to simplify my life a little. I'm trying really hard to be the person I know I have the potential to be. The person my Heavenly Father sees me as.

It's hard sometimes. And life gets in the way sometimes. But I've got a lot going for me.

I'm simplifying my life by using Elder Ballard's advice. I highly recommend it.

He give tips for keeping life's demands in balance. Here they are:

1. Use an eternal perspective to set priorities

-find quite time

-make a daily to do list

2. Set reasonable short-term goals

-set well balanced goals that you can reach

-write them down

3. Become financially responsible and secure

-budget wisely

-don't borrow unless necessary

4. Build close relationships with family and friends

-have gentle, loving, and thoughtful communication

-listen and have a good sense of humor

-forgive

5. Study the scriptures

-study the Book of Mormon daily; make it a lifetime pursuit

6. Rest, exercise, and relax

-schedule time on your daily calendars

-it will enhance your dignity and self-respect

7. Teach one another the gospel

-attend fhe

-teach each other the doctrines of the kingdom

8. Pray often

-pray as individuals and as a family

I hope you all had as good a Sunday as I did!

Full

that's me. in my practically empty room at 1 am. after a day of moving and moving and moving. also, i didn't shower today. just thought you should know.

Right now I'm sitting in my practically empty room at the Cove.

I spent the day packing and moving and moving and moving. And I'm tired.

Oh. And I smell.

Moving is hard! I'd forgotten how much I dislike it.

Almost all my belongings are piled high in my room at my parent's house. I will live there for a week while I wait to move into my new place. I'm looking forward to spending some time with my family! It will be refreshing to be somewhere "far away" from the drama of a single's ward.

I will spend the day cleaning and cleaning and cleaning in hopes that the Cove won't take a few last pennies from me. I've only given them close to $8,000 over the past two years. I'm sure they will find something to charge me for.

It feels strange to only have one more day in a place I have called "home" for two full years. Very full years! So much happened while I lived here. A lot changed. I changed.

Although it feels strange, it feels good to be leaving. I'm so glad I can say that. It took a long time and a lot of praying, but it does feel good. Change can be good! That's a lesson I've learned not only in the past few years, but in the past few months too.

Although my room is empty, I am not. I'm full. I'm full of so much. And I'm so grateful for that.

Lesson Learned

I knew it was a bad idea. I did it anyway.

I ended up with water ALL over my bathroom floor. The toilet wouldn't stop overflowing with water. It was bad. And gross.

I laughed hysterically.

I turned the water off.

I called my father. He brought me our wet/dry vacum.

I sucked up all the water.

I then mopped the floor with a high concentration of bleach.

My eyes and throat were kind of burning.

Then I took a shower.

Note to self: Don't use paper towels when you run out of toilet paper.