Happenings.

I feel like a significant amount of things has happened that I would be better off posting about it here so if I need to update anyone I can just refer them to my blog. (or maybe some will just stumble upon it)

Where to begin. Its only been one month since my last post. I have a few more weeks left in this semester. I was planning on going to Alaska. I can't say that I can correctly connect my thoughts and the events of the last month, but...I'm not going to Alaska anymore. I quit the job that I was given at Alaska Coach Tours. All I have to say it, yes boss lady, I did pray about it. I had a peaceful feeling about it so I wasn't upset or regretful of my decision. Part of that decision was based upon the fact that I met someone. That could be a whole blog post in and of itself. I'll just leave it at that for now. He's been great. I'm glad we met :)

It was a couple days after my last blog post that I got a text saying my Grandma had a heart attack (she's doing okay for now as far as I've been told) and that my little brother Jordan went to jail. Needless to say it was a shocker of a text message. I'm glad I was informed, but I wasn't prepared for all of that info when I still didn't feel like I had a handle on my school schedule and class load. I ended up feeling like I needed to drop a class that week too. I'm not a super student, so 12 credits is all I ended up taking this semester even though I would've liked to take so much more.

The next day is when I met the boy. It has been a good month or so. *Revisit topic later*

My classes have been very beneficial this semester. Usually each semester I have at least one class that I've made pretty close friends in. This semester has been awesome for that. And I had a pretty meaningful project to complete. I had to make a scrapbook for a class project. So perfect for me...except I hate doing those sort of things on a deadline. Sooo I wish it was better, but its still pretty decent considering my rush. I got that done the day or two after the text. It just came back graded from the teacher this past Wednesday. I guess I'm an overachiever in the scrapbook dept. I got a perfect score. It was a project around the idea of , who I was , who I am and who I want to become. I had sent out an email asking some of my friends and family to tell me what it is that they love about me. (that was part of the who I am section) I wrote lots about my growing up in the who I was. I added one of my blog posts just because I had updated on where all of my family was at that point in life. Then I put a list of things I've done so far in my life and also I list of things I wanted to do before I die. I put pictures of my family. I wish I would've had more time to write more. I could've made the book pretty large and costly. I guess its better that I had a deadline. Not sure how this all ties in other than I have to learn who I am and stay true to that. Regardless of what is going on around me.

Fast forward to this weekend. I had a pretty eventful last couple of days. On my drive up to logan (where the boy lives) I had a tire blow out on me. I just found it funny (interesting, not haha) that I would be calling my brother to ask about some things with my car because it was not right and I couldn't think of what it could be. Shortly after getting off the phone with him I figured out why it was so shaky. The tire was ready to blow probably for the last couple of weeks. I knew the drill. Pull out the spare tire, get everything ready....get to work. I was hoping I wouldn't have to do it on my own, but at least I knew how to. *tangent* When we went to Texas to visit Jake when I was in high school I was driving with him while he took his girlfriend to school. We were in a two seater car that he had. I want to say it was a black Fiero. I could be wrong though. Well on our way to this chick's school he had a tire blow. We jumped out and had that tire changed in like 5 minutes or something. It was the fastest I had ever seen that done on the side of the road. It was just funny that that is what I thought about as I had pulled over on the side of the road trying to pitifully change my own tire. I got everything out and then some older gentleman pulled over to help me. He said up front he didn't have a lot of time, but that he would try to help. So so soo grateful he helped me. I don't think I would've gotten the tire off by myself. I was so blessed that he pulled over to help. He then gave me a recommendation on where to go to get a new/used tire. I went to that shop and ended up having to get 2 used tires for my back two tires. I really was lucky that it all happened when it did. I had last minute decided to drive during the day instead of at night. I had also taken a different route that I had originally planned on too. Just lots of small lil personal miracles. The guys at the tire shop were super nice and helpful too. Then I got to meet up with an old friend from Ohio for dinner. It was good to see a happy face.

I got to bed at a decent hour that night then woke up super early to get on the road to go down to SLC to go to the temple with another friend from Ohio. On my way going through the mountains I was pulled over for speeding. I didn't deny it. I was coming down a hill and let my brain wonder a little bit and the speed just took over. I was apparently going 73 in a 60. I just kinda sat there shocked and was just way too mellow for my own good. The cop let me off with a warning and thanked me for being so cordial and for wearing my seatbelt and then told me that he hoped that warning was enough to slow me down. So many blessings.

I forgot to maybe mention part of why my mind had been wondering. In class on Thursday we found out that our medical assisting program at BYU Idaho is going to get cut. I'm still a little in shock and maybe not as worked up about it unless I'm around my classmates. It really does suck, but I don't understand it all. I guess with that being said I'm glad that I looked into my financial status a little closer to see if going for the spring would work out. I'm glad I was pushed a little to quit the Alaska job so that I can finish my degree. I'm not looking forward to one of my last classes, but if I didn't finish it this next semester the last few semesters would've just been a huge waste of my time and money. Soooo I guess its looking like I'll be taking one last semester of classes and then I'll be doing my externship. I have called a few places to ask about getting an externship but its a little too early for doctors to care about wanting an MA extern for the fall.

With all that going on, I also wanted to mention the latest news on Jordan. He went to court on Friday. He found out that he is going to be going to Prison for a year. Then when he gets out he won't be on probation anymore. I assume that means the normal probation officer he has been going to won't be someone he will have to meet up with regularly. I don't think that means when he is out that all his problems will go away. OHH yeah, because I forgot to mention, before he went to jail in Feb he was telling us that he was going to marry his girlfriend as soon as she got home from her training with the Marines. They had been together for around a year I think. Welllll anyway. When he went to jail there was a falling out between them, they aren't planning a wedding anymore, but she is having their baby in September. Guess I'm going to be an aunt again. So who knows how things will go down between them, but we will see how that all progresses. I know things can change everyday. You just never know. 

Perhaps I should always remember to count my blessings and look for the silver lining. It's not about what I don't have, its about what I DO have.

I have wonderful people in my life that love me. Each one of them could be named as individual blessings.
I have classes that I love and that are helping me grow as a person. My car still works. I'm getting good grades (so far :) ) I have my health. My prayers have been answered. There are still things that make me laugh and music still makes me happy.

Happiness is a Choice

It's back to updating about my life.
I'm in school. I am signed up for 15 credits. I'll probably be dropping a class this week. I want to and wish I could do more, but the fact of the matter is...I take things too seriously or dwell on assignments too long to get everything done. I know some people's personalities allow for them to do more but that is just not me. I do better and I'm happier when I don't have a ton on my plate. And that is perfectly okay. If there is one thing that I have learned lately over and over again is that Being Me is okay. I'm being the best self that I can and that's all I can give. It's unrealistic to think I'd change all the bad things about me in a short amount of time. So I try to find the good in who I am and the things I can do. I am working on being happy with where I am and not wanting to be somewhere else. I have found out that this just causes mass headaches. Yeah...a headache for a week straight means I need to drop something out of my life. I would rather drop something than try to take pain pills to mask the pain. I think i just need to not look at a computer screen for too many hours in any one day. That could be where my headaches are coming from. That and I haven't been so disciplined about going to bed at a decent hour. I'm working on that one as well.

I started my training today for Alaska Coach Tours. Well in reality it started on Saturday. I had a good time in that class actually. We watched videos and it was all classroom work. Then today I actually got to get out on the bus. I've had a lot of driving experience in my days here on earth but this huge bus was nothing like what I would've expected it to be. I'm glad we have to get in 40 hrs of drive time. That's another reason I'm dropping one class. I was the first out on the bus of all the trainees. So many things were off today. Hopefully it will go a little smoother next time. I'm really looking forward to this coming summer in Alaska.

I have classwork I need to get done.....so that's all for my update today.

Back in Idaho...

School starts again tomorrow. I'm looking forward to good things this semester and this coming year. Lots going on for me. I'm trying to get over a cold and get settled in at a new apartment. I have a new assignment or two at church. Hopefully I can find the balance with that, my school work and with social activities. My goodness...I've got a lot to look forward to and a lot to be thankful for. Life is good. I just need to keep my priorities straight and take it one step at a time.

Temple square Christmas lights

I cropped these pictures in hopes that that would help them get posted. (I've been trying to post this for a solid week) Last Thursday evening I went to see the lights with Wendy :) we had fun and the weather was way too nice. My camera wasn't working so Wendy let me use her iPhone to take these.

I also got to visit with Ben & Holly again some too. Oh and Wednesday night I got to visit with Will. It was good to see friends and family since I didn't get out of rexburg for thanksgiving.

Ps....can't wait to go to Ohio for Christmas!

I'm not on Facebook anymore...and other things

I don't think its easy to notice for everyone so I just thought I would announce on my blog that I'm no longer using Facebook. I still use the internet plenty. I check my school email and two other emails regularly. I LOVE reading blogs, and I LOVE watching a few different families/couples/singers on Youtube. I have not given up the internet. I even will sometimes get on keek.com or instagram or even twitter. 

While reading one of my favorite blogs I found this little gem of a quote.

You can often tell if the media and technology in your life are having a positive or negative effect on your soul by the quality of the media conversations you are having. We should regularly ask ourselves three questions: First, am I having media conversations, or am I simply consuming media? Second, what conversations am I having about media with my family and those closest to me? Third, what am I doing to improve the conversations around me when I use media to communicate?   -Amy Peterson Jensen 

This wasn't necessarily the reason for my quitting FB. I mean, I didn't find this quote and then realize FB wasn't helping my soul, however, I feel like it fits the situation. 

None of these other places I go to online ever make me feel so defeated and wasted and unproductive and lazy. Facebook did. 

Every blog I go to read is uplifting to me. I have found places that I go to that help me think and are quality. I have conversations about them with people in my life. Just ask anyone who has heard me use the term, "my youtube friends". I still live my life and keep busy doing things I love but the internet is something I am trying to get better at purposefully using. Thank goodness for google when it comes to my cooking needs. I don't have my recipe box with me and searching the internet has helped lots. Oh, and I have even found some blogs that I like through watching people on Youtube. I'm not one of those people who only use Youtube to watch the viral videos that are most times out of control stupidity. I watch it like its TV. Soooo it's not a big deal that I don't watch TV and I'm not better than anyone else for not doing that. And its possible I waste just as much time as the next guy, but I'm choosy with my content intake. 

About one of those other blogs I read. This here has been a good read for me in the last few months. I liked his last post and talking about self perception. It got me thinking about who I am. It can be slightly uncomfortable being me sometimes. I am trying to be better at BEING me and not being who others want me to be. I've got a very different life that most people I know. I do things that don't always make sense. 

Oh I guess this is the perfect time for me to say/announce that I accepted a position with Alaska Coach Tours. I'll be training to get my CDL feb-april, then I'll be moving to Skagway, AK to work until Sept. I'm going to be a tour guide/driver for groups that come on cruise ships. I'm going to defer a semester at BYU-Idaho so that I can go make some money instead of spend for a semester. Then in January 2014 I will be coming back to finish up my medical assisting classes. Hopefully I'll be able to do some massage on the side up there. I will never regret having all that schooling out of the way. It has been nice to be able to work here and there doing massage while I've been in school this semester. 

Maybe this is an abrupt ending, but I have to go take a test, study for a final, pack to drive home, pack to move apartments and then sometime fit in lunch and get ready to go see a play tonight.....oooo and I hope my birthday package comes in the mail today :)