A Look at the Past and the New Year

I thought that now would be a good time to reflect on the past year and to set my goals for the new year, so bear with me on this. As I look back on this past year it amazes me how much I've grown and changed. I guess it's good that I've learned so much, but I can't help but wonder if a lot of the trials that I faced this year could have been avoided. Last new year's I set a goal for myself to work on my social skills. I wanted to make more friends and I wanted to know more about movies and music and stuff that really doesn't matter too much in the long run, but they were very important to me at the time. Well, I can't say that I know a whole lot about movies and music still, but I did learn a lot socially. Most importantly, I learned that I had set the wrong priorties coming into the new year. I set myself up for one of the hardest years I've had to endure thus far. As I worked on my social goals, I slowly distanced myself from the Spirit and from my Savior. I haven't by any means done anything majorly bad, but I can feel the distance between me and the Spirit that wasn't there before. I feel like I've been suffocating this whole year trying to have the Spirit with me but not really being able to feel Him there most times. The important thing though, as I approach a new year again, is to recognize the lessons that I've learned and to set new goals that will bring me closer to my Savior again. One thing that I've learned is the importance of family. Mom and Dad have told me since I was little that "friends come and go, but family will always be here". I've never really cared much about that phrase until this year. I've been so greatful for my family this year as I've had to watch more than one friend leave me for whatever reasons. Even though I may not understand why things have to happen that way, I've always had my sisters there for me. My sisters are the best friends I could ever have! I know that they will never leave me. As I approach the new year I have some new goals that I will accomplish. First, obviously, is a mission. Second, I will finish my dental assisting program by April, which is right before I would leave for the mission. Third, I will draw nearer to my Savior and to His Spirit by continuing to do the things that I'm doing, such as reading my scriptures daily, saying my prayers morning and night, and attending my meetings, but I am going to try and put more effort into those things and to spend more time and brain power on things of the Spirit rather than things of the world. As I draw nearer to the Spirit the things of the world that are important will fall into place. I will have friends and I will enjoy life more fully. I intend to keep my priorities in order this year. Good luck to you all in the new year! May 2009 be the best year ever! Oh, by the way, if you don't see me around on new year's day it's probably because I'm avoiding catastrophy. =) Most of you proably know how last year started off for me and Tiff... a car accident I don't ever want to relive. Welcome to 2008 huh? Let's hope 2009 doesn't start the same for us. Here's to hoping and praying! =) Happy New Year!

Christmas and More

Well, I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! I for sure did! We didn't do anything spectacular this year, we just were able to enjoy simple, quality time with each other. It was much needed and very enjoyable. I think it was so much more enjoyable because it's been a while since we have all been home without other priorities to attend to. Of course, we were kind of snowed in with a blizzard outside, but still... =) On Christmas Eve, Uncle Lin and Melissa build a snow hippo. I know... a little strange, but it IS Uncle Lin we're talking about. I think it may have started as an accident, because it did start with three circles, and then, after we may or may not have made fun of the way it's head looked, it turned into a hippo. Accident or not though... it DID turn out pretty darn good. =) That night we watched "It's a Wonderful Life", as is tradition, and then Tiff and I played Santa Clause for Dad and Tonya and Kyle. You see, Mom got Dad two recliners for Christmas, and Mom and Dad got Tonya and Kyle a recliner for Christmas. So the question of the night was... "How do we get Tonya and Kyle's recliner in from the barn without them seeing it (because they were staying over for the night), and then, after we get that in, how do we get Dad's recliners from Uncle Lin's house without him knowing?" Well, here's how we did it... We sent Tonya and Kyle to bed in Tyson's room (after making them think that we were all going to bed too so they wouldn't be missing out on anything), and then Tiff and Dad took the tractor out to the barn and retreaved their chair. We assembled it in the family room and then all went to "bed". Actually, Tiff and I had to openly disobey dad when he told us to go to bed and went into the living room to watch a movie. Dad finally went to bed after we had almost finished the movie, and then Tiff and I set into action. We took Dad's truck to Uncle Lin's and loaded both the recliners in. Then we drove oh so carefully home with the chairs covered due to the snow storm. Mom faked a stomach ache and came out and helped us carry them in. We placed them in the living room. In the morning Dad had the video camera and he walked into the living to show all the new snow through the window and as he walked in he said, "It looks like we have a white..." He stopped mid sentance when he saw the chairs. It was pretty funny. =) Christmas day we opened presents, and I think that one reason that this Christmas was so good is because I wasn't expecting anything. I knew that the family's been a little low on money this year so I was expecting a simple, quiet Christmas. I was shocked to come into the family room Christmas morning to see that Santa had brought me a Dance Dance Revolution complete with a playstation and two mats. I couldn't believe it! I'm going to be so completely fit this year! =) The rest of the Christmas break was spent playing a certain game that Tonya bought for Kyle. It's called Bohnanza, and it sounds completely boring when I try to explain it, but SO ADDICTING! =) Basically you plant beans (cards that have pictures of different beans on them) and then you trade them. The object is to get as many coins by the end of the game as possible. It takes about three hours to play one game, but it's so worth it. =) As the Christmas break comes to an end, I can't help but feel a melancholy feeling. I came to a decision over the break that both excites and scares me. I've been going back and forth on the decision to serve a mission or not. Well, something happened just before break that really got me thinking about it to the extent that I felt like I needed to come to a for sure decision soon. I feel very strongly that that's what I need to do, which means that I will be turning my papers in the end of January or beginning of February. I guess maybe that's why this Christmas has been so good for me. I've tried to enjoy everything about it and to make it the very best because it's quite possible that it could be my last Christmas, for the next two years, with my family. It saddens me to think of that, but I know that they and I will be blessed when I put the Lord first. I pray that I will be prepared for what will come. I'm so greatful for my family and for the things that they have taught me. Mom and Dad have taught me to trust in the Lord and to always put Him first, and then everything will work out. Thank you Mom and Dad for the testimony that you've helped me to build throughout my life. Thank you!

Halloween

I think Halloween may have actually happened before prom night, but it was close enough. For Hollween I was going to be a devil, but then I just decided that I couldn't pull if off, so I was a leprechan instead. We first had a ward Halloween party and then it was the real Halloween. Both were very fun and exciting. Halloween was also Sarah's birthday, so it was a double party. I'll just post some pictures because "a picture is worth more than a thousand words". (Oh, so profound.) =)

Prom Night at the Dollar Movie

Darlene, Sarah, and Me

Another highlight of my Provo existance is the night that we decided to celebrate daylight savings. =) (Well, that wasn't really the reason we did this, we just used that as the excuse.) We were bored one night, so we randomly decided to get dressed up in prom attire and go someone where we would be completely out of place. We chose to go see Walle at the dollar theater. =) Now imagine a group of college aged students, the girls in prom dresses and the boys in whatever they could find in the hour that we had to get ready, at the dollar theater. It was amazing, especially when we had to walk all the way up to the front of the theater to get a seat by each other because we were a little late. It ended up being nine guys and three girls. Next time I want to go to Chucke Cheese's or something ridiculous like that. =)

Back Row: Kenny Chuck, Josh, Draper, Clay, John, Brandon Front Row: Me, Sarah, Joey,Darlene

Left to Right: Garrison, Darlene, Kevin, Clay, Sarah, Random dude, Josh, Me

Midnight Fun

One night me, Darlene, and one of our other awesome roommates, Megan, decided that we wanted to do something spontaneous, so we decided upon scaring Becca (another awesome roommate) when she got home from work at 11:30pm. We first dressed up like gothic girls (or maybe vampires... which ever your prefer). Then we turned off all the lights in the apartment, and each of us grabbed a candle to hold. I sat on the kitchen table, Megan sat on the kitchen floor up against the refrigerator, and Darlene sat on the back of the couch in the living room. We were each holding our candles and just staring off into the distance as we were meditating or something. In the background, scary/ halloween music was playing. It sounds like a great plan for scaring someone right? Well, Becca walked in and just stared at us for a moment, and then she said, "Guys, I love you death, but today isn't the best day to be doing this. I just had the mose horrendous day at work." Talk about bad timing! =) It was still funny though and we got some great pictures out of it!

For Dar

So my roommate, Darlene Zollinger, is the world's best roommate! We have a blast together, and she randomly will leave things, like Starburst's, on my pillow with a cute little note to lift me up when I'm having a bad day. Sometimes we both have bad days on the same day, and when that happens there's only one thing to do... go to the BYU Creamery for some ice cream. Without Darlene in our ward and in our apartment life would be a lot more boring and a lot less... interesting. Darlene has a way of making everyone laugh, even when she's not trying to. She's made our quote board more than once. Some of my favorite quotes from Darlene are:

"Sometimes people need to know that they are ridiculous!" (I'm not sure of the story behind that one, but I'm sure it was interesting.)

"I usually don't hear it because I usually have my makeup on." (We were riding in her car and her dash board was rattling, so I said something like, "That would drive me nuts if my car did that." She promply replied with the above quote. Needless to say, I was a little confused. It turned out she meant to say that she usually doesn't hear it because she usually has her MUSIC on.)

"I wish that were me kissing someone." (She was looking at a magazine.)

Anyway, I'm super glad that she's my roommate. What would life be without her? =)

All About Me

Well, here I am. I finally found my way to the blogging world. Amazing huh? I'll try to make this as interesting as possible, but I'm giving you fair warning now that my life is really not that exciting. =) I'm currently living in Provo, UT at an apartment complex called Sparks II. (There never was a Sparks I so I have no idea why it's Sparks the second. Our theory is that Sparks I burned down years ago and the boy scouts built Sparks II in the exact same spot... which is why all the apartments are different dimensions. It's the only logical explanation we could come up with.) Anyway, I've lived here since the middle of August, and I've loved every minute of it. Mostly, I guess I just love not living at home. =) I work as a receptionist in a dental office in American Fork called Masterpiece Dental, which is about a twenty min drive from my apartment. I haven't minded the commute much yet, but when it starts snowing... That'll be a completely different story. For those of you that have known my car wreck history this past winter alone, you'll know what I'm talking about. I'm also taking a dental assisting course online through Penn Foster College (based in Scottsdale, AZ). Other than that, I'm just playing and having fun. What a life huh? =)