Homesickness

Can you believe that summer is over and fall is already in the air? Me either.

This week has brought on a homesickness that I haven't felt in a while. However, not the homesickness that you would think.

I've been home to Manti almost every other weekend this summer. Which has been great but this homesickness is different.

I am homesick for a beautiful town and college campus in Southern Utah.

Yes. Cedar City I am missing you dearly this week.

It's been 2 1/4 years since I was a student on your campus and I didn't think I'd have this feeling again. But here I am. Homesick for Cedar.

Homesick for a little of this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

This beautiful sister of mine fell in love with Southern Utah when we made a little visit last summer.

She started her first week as a Thunderbird Freshman on Monday. We've chatted more in the past 4 days than we have all summer and it's been wonderful. But boy, it's sure made me long for my second home.

So dearest Cedar City, as luck would have it (and blessings too, I'm sure), a dear friend texted me yesterday to invite me to
play in Cedar City this weekend. Absolutely. I'm in. And I can't wait!

Oh right. It's Summer.

Summer? What is that again?

sum-mer

1. The usually warmest season of the year, occurring between spring and autumn and constituting June, July, and August in the Northern Hemisphere, or, as calculated astronomically, extending from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox.

2. A period of fruition, fulfillment, happiness, or beauty.
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/summer)

Aww... Summer. Yes. (If this were a movie, insert frolicking children running through a meadow.)

Hold it! Stop the tape! (yes, you just heard the "tape stopping" sound in your head)
Welcome to adulthood. Frolicking is done ONLY after 5pm and on Saturdays.

Funny how my personal definitions of summer have changed over the years.

Age 0-3: Same as the rest of the year
Age 4-6: The only days spent inside were rainy days. Even then, it was rare. And my playmate/sister didn't have school.
Age 7-11: Summer was great but I loved school. Summer almost seemed too long. I was ready for school start in mid-July.
Age 13-17: Half my summer was consumed by "Pageant" and the other half by summer jobs.
Age 18-22: My summers became longer! (May-August + no "pageant"). However, the stress of finding summer jobs was greater.
Age 23: Oh right. That just happened. 23. Real life. Real job.

What's so different about this summer compared to last? This summer I actually have to track and report my vacation days. Don't get me wrong, paid vacation days are great! Problem is, I only have so many of them. (**Sigh**)

So. 2 weeks of summer have already passed. And what have I done with it?

Spent every moment possible with this girl before she leaves! 

(June 5th, Portland, OR Mission)

Had sleepovers with my mom, among Women's Conference classes.

Turned 23. (Oldie.)

Played in the mud a little bit...















And waterskiied!
This is how we waterski in March, April, May & October:

• Full wetsuit
• Gloves
• Watersocks

The only thing missing is a beanie.

Here's some Hokulia Shaved Ice to toast to a fabulous-use-up-all-my-vacation-days summer!

A Coming of Age

In 1.5 weeks I will move from:

• BYU Athletics Secretary for Soccer, Gymnastics, and Tennis
• 6 Hour Work Days
• 30 Minute Lunch Breaks
• Only 401K Benefits
• A Cave Office

To this:

• BYU Athletics Administrative Assistant to the Associate Athletic Director
• 8 Hour Work Days
• 60 Minute Lunch Breaks
• Medical and Dental Insurance + 401K Retirement Benefits + Paid Holidays, Vacation, & Sick Time
• Legit Office

It's a coming of age. I actually have to be a real adult now with a real full time job.

Feelings:

• Sad to miss out on day to day interaction with awesome coaches and athletes
• Man! I'm going to miss my incredible soccer team! (Ranked #4 in the Country!)
• Gonna have to get more sleep at night so I can actually wake up EARLIER to run... ugh.
• Super nervous for the overwhelmingness of a new job
• So stoked for this new opportunity and the adventures it will bring!

P.S.      Dear Future Husband:
                       I can give us awesome insurance, tickets and put you through school if need be.
                       Just thought you'd like to know.  :)

Love you Lil' Sis + Photoshooting

From the first moment that she came into my life,
we've been best friends.

Like all best friends, we had our ups and downs. We loved to play together, tease each other and fight with each other.

In fact, I remember telling her one time that "Mom and Dad are going to have to send one of us away because we fight too much. And they are going to keep me because they love me more because I am older."
Typical older sister right?

To this day, I am incredibly grateful that our parents didn't give either of us away!!!

A sister shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams.  

~Author Unknown

As we grew up, we each went through our struggles, but friends we remained.

The best thing about having a sister was that I always had a friend.  

~Cali Rae Turner

Eventually, we parted ways as we grew up. But coming home to play, to pamper, 

and to hang out, 

made for some of the best memories through my college experience.

 
 







 




 

A turning point in our relationship came when we overcame great struggles and ran a half marathon together. It was then that we became equals. 

No longer older and younger, but sister to sister, friend to friend.

One of the best days of my life was when I got the job at BYU and realized that I would be moving to Provo and would finally live in the same town as my sister again. 

The last year has been such an incredible journey full of fun, laughter, many sporting events, random adventures, a few tears, but amazing growth.

Sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, 

but once the sisters are grown, 

it becomes the strongest relationship.  

~Margaret Mead

To my fabulous and amazing sister, KelliAnne,  
I love you more than words could ever describe.
You've been my rock, my adviser, my teacher, sometimes my mother, my inspiration, my competitor, my example, my friend, my fellow adventurer, my opponent, my enthusiast, my confidant, 
but best of all, my sister. Forever.

 Photoshoot by: Kylie secondstarphotography.blogspot.com

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities.  She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway.  She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark.  She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink.  Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.  

~Barbara Alpert   

 

22 Lessons I've Learned in 22 Years

1. You can always find something to be grateful for
2. You never really become an adult- you just get more responsibility and have more life lessons thrust upon you. Embrace it.
3. God hears and answers every prayer in His own time.
4. Mothers are the most amazing people in the world
5. "To Do Lists" can either enhance your productivity or overwhelm your motivation
6. Anyone can be creative
7. Outside is one of the best places to be, even if it's raining, snowing, or windy. Dress appropriately.
8. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Leonardo Da Vinci
9. Life is brighter and better when you get enough sleep
10. Learn to say no
11. Laugh out Loud
12. Don't try to please everyone. It isn't possible.
13. Sisters make the best best friends
14. Put the "rocks" in your jar first. The sand can still filter through.
15. The key to anything in life is willingness
16. Everyone is human. We laugh, we cry, we get angry, we are sometimes sad, but we can also be       happy beyond reason
17. You can do anything, over come anything, and be anything with desire
18. Google or Pinterest can answer anything
19. If you're doing what everyone else is doing, you're only contributing to the average. Do things that other people are not doing
20. Your health is your life
21. Be someone who can be loved
22. You can keep going long after you think you can't

New Job, New Town, New Adventures

After 10 months of worry, stress, prayers, pleading, patience and faith,  

the answers came. 

In the course of  7 days. 

And then my life turned upside down.

Back in June I was talking to a former Bishop. He asked how things were going and what my plans were. At the time I had no idea. He then told me that he had a feeling that when things started working out for me I was going to have to hang on for the ride of my life. 

They were going to work out, and work out one thing right after the other.

How right he was.

A few weeks ago I received a lovely phone call from BYU Athletics offering me the position of Sports Secretary for Women's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis, and Gymnastics. 

Since that phone call, I frantically finished work in Cedar City, bid farewell to many many wonderful people in Southern Utah, packed my whole life up, started a new job in Provo, lived homeless for a week, and finally just moved into a new apartment.

I am an official employee of Brigham Young University.  

Really official.

(Link to employee profile...)

ID Card, Name Plate, and Campus Portraits

Life is not so much in the "limbo stage" anymore. It's getting into a routine, work is going wonderfully, and there are still  

many adventures to explore. 

And although it changed upside down in less than a week, I know that someone is watching out for me. 

He has a plan for me, and no matter what life brings, I always have him to turn to.

No matter what.

The Next Step

Do you remember that Indiana Jones movie where Indiana has to get across the bridge with the unstable stepping stones? He had to take one step at a time and step on the right stone or else the whole thing will collapse. As you watch Indiana Jones take each wobbly step like a little kid learning to walk, you secretly cheer inside knowing that he made the next step and the bridge didn't collapse.

I think that is how Heavenly Father feels. Every time we take that next step, even though it might be a step into the dark, He cheering is us on.

This week, I discovered the next step. And even though I don't know what the step after that will be, I am on a sure stone! And I still have 4 more months to figure out the step after this one! For so long I have worried, stressed, and lost sleep over what direction I want my life to take. But as life always works itself out just in time, I know where I need to be in a few weeks after graduation.

Where will I be, you ask? I got two jobs in Cedar City for the summer! I am very excited about them! Even though it seems like this might be somewhat of a let down after taking My Leap of Faith the last couple months, it is not a let down at all! I have a source of income, in a great place, not too far from home, with plenty of opportunities still to explore! Through my leap of faith, I discovered that I had the courage to take that leap! Even though it didn't generate the results that I expected, it generated the discovery of something I didn't know I had in me.

And isn't that what life is about?! Continually discovering new things about ourselves and learning to be better and taking that next step? Yep. I think so.

With wonderful friends

(Snow College and SUU reunion at Applebees! Vic, Madi, Jena, Darci, Rich, Matt)

and an amazing family

by my side,

like Indiana Jones, 

this girl is ready to graduate in 

exactly three weeks and 

take this next step!

A Leap of Faith

In exactly 2 months from today, I graduate! I can't believe it! So so crazy! I still don't know what I'm going to do, come May. I know I've said this before but I always knew that I wanted to go to college and get a degree, but I never planned for after that. Yet here I am--with the world at my feet and I have no idea which door to take! I have been praying like crazy and I have received little answers and course corrections here and there, but I still don't know where I want to go and what I want to do. I have been applying for a ton of jobs in Utah, but it finally dawned on me that I am never going to figure out which path is right for me, if I'm not testing all the options and doors. So, in this last week, I took a leap of faith.
I applied for a bunch of internships out of state! I know this probably doesn't sound like much of a leap, but it kinda scares me to death! I don't know if they'll even come through or not, but my determination and character are definitely being built!

I was flipping through the ensign yesterday during sacrament and I came across an amazing talk by Richard G. Scott. In it, he said,

"As you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty, exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions you would not obtain otherwise. With even your strongest faith, God will not always reward you immediately according to your desires. Rather, God will respond with what in His eternal plan is best for you, when it will yield the greatest advantage. Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. That causes your faith to increase and your character to grow."

This truly spoke to my heart. It was exactly what I needed to hear--reassurance that not knowing where to go, is ok. For now at least. It's really tough, but it is teaching me true faith in God's plan, in His timing, and in leaning on the Savior for support and comfort. I know God's has his guiding hand in our lives. He loves us. And he is there to catch us when we take that leap of faith.


I like to look at it like cliff jumping at Lake Powell. When you climb the rock and you're getting ready to jump, the water looks so far away and you are tempted to go a little lower. But you don't. You take the chance and run and leap, pushing hard off the rock. Your heart plummets when you realize how far you are falling, and you scream with anticipation, but the exhilaration of hitting the water with a big splash and then kicking to the surface, is incomparable. It is only then, that you turn around and look back up at the cliff you just plummeted off of, and realize, "Wow. That really wasn't that high! And boy, it was fun!" Everything turned out just fine!

I am excited for when that day comes that I can look back at this leap of faith and realize how much it changed me and helped me to grow. Even if, I get a great job in Utah that I love, I still took the chance to try all the doors. And that, in it of itself, is building faith.

A Landmark Day

Today,

is my last first-day-of-school.

Yes!

I’m graduating in exactly 3 months and 27 days! I am super excited!

So many people have asked me in the last while what I’m going to do when I’m done with school. Well here is your answer:

I DON'T KNOW.

However I do know two things:

1. I’m not going to grad school

and

2. I’m not going on a mission.

Over the last month, the mission thing has been on my mind a lot and a ton of people have asked me if I am going to go. I haven’t really had much of an answer to give them. Until now. I have been praying very hard and pleading with the Lord to give me direction in my life.

I have learned one amazing life lesson.

Last week I was sitting in Emily's (my amazing cousin) missionary setting apart. She is going to be one great missionary! However, I was sitting there, surrounded by all of our family listening to the stake president, when I had this overwhelming feeling that this isn’t for me.

The Lord has amazing plans and blessings for me too but a mission is not one of them.

Now, with firm conviction, I can answer those who have asked. No. I am not going on a mission.

But it’s not because I don’t love the gospel. It’s not because I don’t want to share it with people. It’s not because I’m ungrateful. It’s because it is not where I’m supposed to go come the end of school.

The Lord has something different in mind.

I don’t know what that is. But the great lesson that I have learned is that  

answers come in pieces.

They don’t come in one big sweep. But they are obtained bit by bit. They correct our course in little adjustments and direct us to be where the Lord needs us to be.

I don’t know what the next 4 months will bring. But I have the faith that I will continue to get my answers little bit by little bit. Each of us have a great calling in this life—to be ourselves! To do our very best and live up to our full potential. To let God lead us in the direction and down the path that He needs us to go. It may be unexpected and it may be hard. But it is well worth the effort! The blessings will come back to us and we will recognize God’s amazing love throughout our entire life.

We are not alone and He is there to guide us each and every day in the little steps we take!