Day 4

List 10 Things You Would Tell Your 16-year-old Self, if You Could.

1.  You will get in to BYU, your dream school.
2.  BYU isn't as great as they make it out to be and BYUI is not a reject school.
3.  Boys are stupid, don't get your hopes up about them.
4.  You're right, driving is the best!  Hurry up and get your license already.
5.  If you do ACE Plus, make sure you go to a state school, otherwise it won't be worth it.
6.  One B in high school, won't kill you.
7.  Quit avoiding mutual activities.
8.  Get out of the house more often.
9.  Learn to bridle your tongue.
10.  Listen to what I'm saying

Day 3

Describe Your Relationship With Your Parents.


What a hard question, it's hard to put into words what I feel and what I want to say.  But I'll give it my best shot...

My mom is AMAZING.  Don't get me wrong, she's CRAZY too but amazing.  Her levels of craziness reach all kinds of levels (if you know her personally you know what I mean) but she is perhaps my best friend.  I can only recall 3-4 times in my whole life where we clashed, A LOT (and those never lasted more than 4 months).  Though at those times, I was sure I hated her and that we would never have a good relationship again, but I'm so glad I was wrong.  She has been my rock and support throughout my life.  If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have done as well as I did in school, had the courage to go to college (especially move away to go to college), or have the strength to overcome such hard trials.  She has set an extraordinary example for me.  She has been through such hard times in her own life and yet she still loves the Lord, what a great lesson.  I'm so grateful to be hers and for her to be mine.  If I'm ever blessed to have children, I hope I can resemble her parenting patterns.

My dad passed away when I was young.  I'm told I'm just like him.  From pictures, I can definitely see the family resemblence.  We both have very analytical, logical, mathematical minds as well.  I love hearing stories about him and being told I'm just like him; it makes me happy.  He is still very influential in my life.  He cared a lot about education and that was a huge motivation for me to do well in high school that I could go on to higher learning.  It sounds strange, but I love going to his tombstone by myself at the cemetery he's buried at.  I talk to him like he really is there and his spirit gives me strength.  I know he helps me from the other side and is proud of me.  What a great feeling!

I also have a stepdad, Kevin.  He's been around for awhile.  He went on his first date with my mom when I was 9 and they got married when I was 15.  When they were engaged, I told my mom adamently that he is not my dad and nor will I ever call him that.  He's just been Kevin, my mom's boyfriend, fiancee, and husband (depending on the time).  For the longest time I never really considered him as anything, not family, not really a friend, but my mom's whatever.  It wasn't until recently that it really struck me that he is something to me.  He's my stepDAD.  He's seen me through the awkward preteens, the horrible teenage years, through elementary, jr. high, high school, college, and a mission.  He has definitely supported me through hard times and encouraged me to be better.  He has taught me how to grill and helped me gain a love for food.  We don't talk a ton, but I know he's there and it's wonderful

Day 2

Name and Explain 3 Legitimate Fears:

1. Death
Death is not an uncommon heartache in our family.  I'm not so worried about going to "the other side" but more HOW it will happen.  A car accident where I wither in pain or a long illness that will ultimately lead to death terrifies me, but in my sleep would be OK.  It's more I don't know what to expect, and it's not like someone can explain to you how it will be, and I don't handle the unknown very well.

2. Being Single
I'm getting older.  DUHH.  To the world, I'm still really young, but in Mormon World, I'm very behind.  Most of my friends by now are married, pregnant, or even already have one, with the second on the way. There comes a certain age for girls, when the boys quit looking and focus on the 19-year-olds.  I feel like I've passed the threshold or at least VERY CLOSE.  I worry that I'll never get married and I'll be alone.  The thought of dying alone terrifies me.

3. Failure
I'm so worried about not living up to my potential.  I don't like letting myself down, especially letting others down.  I worry about making mistakes that are BIG mistakes, making wrong decisions.  Obviously wearing white on a rainy day is a bad decision, but not compared to my career, my family, etc.  I don't want to mess up nor do I want to misinterpret guidance given to me.  Basically, I want to excel.  Sure, there will be bumps along the road, but I want to be strong enough, sure enough of myself, to keep going forward.

Stolen Idea: 30 Things

I will openly admit that I stole this idea from my friend Alexa's blog.  It's a 30-day/posts learning about me.  It will probably take me a lot longer than that but guess what?!  My house is jumping into the 21st century and we will have internet starting next week!!  So my posts will no longer be so sparatic (ideally that is haha)

Day 1 - 20 Random Facts

1.  In a group of people, I'm ALWAYS the shortest person (even compared to the children present usually)
2.  I went to 2 out of the 3 BYUs (Provo and Idaho)
3.  I LOVE the TV show, FRIENDS.
4.  Of the 2 vehicles I've owned, both have been manual and neither have had power locks.
5.  I love earrings, especially long silver ones that stand out against my hair.
6.  I'm the youngest in my family, and the only single one.
7.  I never wanted to live in Arizona again after college and yet, here I live.
8.  I was called to serve in the New Jersey Morristown Mission.
9.  My brother, Brian, broke my collar bone when I was 3.
10.  My brothers, Brian and Scott, and I play INTENSE games of One-for-One.
11.  Kickboxing-type workouts have always been my favorite type of exercise (Turbo Jam is the best program!)
12.  I work part-time as a math tutor at this facility called Mathnasium (Home of the Power Math Workout! LOL)
13.  I have recently started this new rule of One-dessert-a-day; it's hard but very effective!!
14.  I HATE the sound of silverware clanking against china (especially spoons against bowls).
15.  I have a Bachelor's degree -- my math minor was soooo much more work than my economics minor.
16.  For dessert, I love ANYTHING cookie dough.
17.  I'm currently studying for the first actuarial exam, hopefully I'll be ready to take it this September.
18.  3 years ago today I was in a rollover car accident.  It's a miracle to be alive and I'm so grateful!
19.  I've had nearly 40 different roommates (I even have a list!)
20.  I saw Hannah Montana: The Movie 10x in the theatres

Online Profile

I'm officially online! Check out my Mormon.org profile :)

http://mormon.org/me/57XX/

I'm still alive, I promise

Hello my friends,

Yikes, it's been over 3 months since my last post... Whoops. I blame the fact that I don't have internet at my house and when I go somewhere where I can update, it's usually the last thing on my mind... But thank you to those who still follow this (if there are any of you left haha)

Well let's see... Since my last post, I had a job, quit said job, and got a new job. I was working in a mail room but quit shortly after (it's a long story, one of which I don't want to get into over the public internet...if you're that curious, ask me and I'll tell you all about it ;) ).

About a week and a half later, I started working at my current place of employment... Mathnasium! My brother, through his many connections, helped me get the interview and I've been working here for 3 months now.

It's a ton of fun and I LOVE it! I work as an instructor/tutor with k-12th grade students. It's pretty evenly spread across the board of ages. The kids test my patience a lot but it's good for me. I'm progressing in work too, being given more responsibilities which is also exciting. The job is only part-time though (the center is not open all day because of school) so I may soon begin looking for another job...either part-time for the morning or a full-time and quit here. I'm not sure yet...Time will tell.

Christmas was good. My brother and his little family came down from Utah for a week and it was nice having the whole family together. It was a little hard Christmas day for me because it's not how I pictured this Christmas. I pictured all my family together still but anxiously awaiting my phone call, not me actually there with them. Other than that, it was good.

New Years was also fun. I'm eager to see what 2012 has in store for me. 2011 was a good, and rough, year but some very memorable things happened in that time... My mom and I went to New York, I went through the temple, I graduated from college, and served a mission. How many people can say that?! :)

I've been enjoying having my mornings and early afternoons off. A typical "day in the life" of me is I wake up, have a breakfast smoothie, read my scriptures, do the laundry, make lunch, do the dishes, work out/exercise, shower, and then head to work. It sounds boring (and sometimes it is) but on the whole it is very fulfilling. I feel like I'm a homemaker in training and I look forward to the "real deal."

I have the wonderful opportunity to go the temple each week and I absolutely look forward to that special time. I live about 35 mins from the Mesa Temple but only about 10 from the Gilbert Temple. Each time I pass it, I'm amazed at the growth in the construction! It's sooo exciting! (I tried posting a picture but it was huge...sorry).

I'm getting better acquainted with my ward. It's taken awhile but it wasn't until about a month ago that I really began trying and the results are amazing. I'm starting to have friends outside of church to hang out with, more acquaintances and familiar faces at church and activities, and even gone out with a couple of boys...don't get any ideas. I'm still NO WHERE close to marriage, but life is picking up and I'm loving it!

Well sorry for the novel with hardly any pictures. I'm at work right now (and don't have my camera) so hopefully next time it will work out.

Random side note: I'm going to see WICKED this Saturday with my mom for the 4th time in 3 years, and I can't wait!

Happy Thanksgiving :)

I promise I haven't forgotten about this blog I just don't have the patience to post with my iPhone. However, you're all worth it :)

Life is getting better. I recently started a temp job at Mutual of Omaha Bank in Tempe. I work in there lock box mail room and oh my goodness it's intense!!! It's not what you imagine with carts and cubbies but is very high tech and fast paced. I'm trying to remain calm while learning. Plus it will be nice to replenish my money supply and have something to do during the day but it sure is tiring. I have new-found respect for my stepdad who has a huge commute and also my mom who both work so much... I've been spoiled.

That's pretty much it for now. I recently celebrated my 22nd birthday and my mom took off work and we partied, including going to see Breaking Dawn (LOVED it!!!!!!!!). Crazy it's already Thanksgiving and Christmas is only a month away :) Happy Holidays!!! ;)