Traditions

I like traditions. I'm very sentimental and I love having "your thing". When we don't get pajamas at Christmas I'm a little heartbroken even though I really don't need any more pajamas. I like things to stay the same. That is of course, impossible.

My family has had family pictures taken every year since pretty much forever. Definitely since 1988. That's a long time. We used to always get them taken by the same company, but the high school doesn't do that fundraiser any more so we have had to turn to other avenues. This makes it more difficult to be consistent. Two years ago (2013) we took them in November at Thanksgiving and mom didn't even put them on the wall until October. Last year (2014) we took them in December. And this year (2015) we didn't take them. We were all together in November, but it didn't happen. Then we weren't all home for Christmas so it didn't happen then either. We figured maybe we could take them in January and pretend they were from 2015, but then that didn't look like it would happen then either.

I went home this last weekend and schedules just weren't allowing for it to happen. Sunday came and we hadn't taken them and mom and dad had church at 11, Kevin had church at 1, and the rest had church at 1:50 and I was planning on leaving at 3 so I didn't have to drive too much in the dark. I accepted that that is how life goes. Sometimes things just don't work out how you would have hoped. Things change. I said to Julie "it had to happen sometime". Then a small miracle and tender mercy to me happened. There were too many people in the library at church so mom could leave and dad got someone else to conduct the high priests. One problem, Kevin just left for church. So I text him and asked him if he would come home for just a minute. He did. He's the best. The shirts we got were a little big, but everyone put them on and we went outside to take our family picture. With a selfie stick. That is what we have been reduced to. And you know what? I don't even care. I was just so happy that we got the pictures taken. Kevin was late for church and we are squinting in all the pictures, but they got taken. Things may not always stay the same or change to how you want them, but you have to enjoy what you do have and make the best of every moment.

My Way

Life is hard. Interacting with people is hard. We all have our own way of thinking and doing things and it's very easy to get into the mindset that our way is the BEST way and quite possibly the ONLY way to do things. Sometimes our way really is the best way, but it is NOT the only way and just because it might be best doesn't mean that everyone else has to think so or that they have to do it that way. As I get older I find myself more and more often telling myself that it's okay. It's okay that they don't do it my way, even though my way is better. I have to tell myself this repeatedly because it's so easy to fall into the trap that my way is the ONLY way and that if they aren't doing it my way they are probably terrible people and that the world is going to end. A bit dramatic I know, but sometimes in my tired and frustrated mind that is how it seems. So here's to being more open minded and accepting that people can do things how they want. They can keep their stuff and put it where they want. They can inform people or keep things to themselves. They can spend their money how they want. They eat vegan. They can use 18 rolls of toilet paper in a week. This is life and most of things don't affect me at all.

College was good

I really loved college. I loved class and work and the people I met and the adventures I went on. I feel like the friends I made in college were quality. Obviously not all of those friendships stuck. We're facebook friends, but it doesn't extend much beyond that. And that is perfectly okay. But some of those friends, although they may not be much more than facebook posts, mean a lot. My first year or two of college I helped with video production. I was the only girl on the crew and we all just got along great. Jared and Scot were two of my favorites. They were hard workers and loved to have fun. I loved doing shows with them. Eventually they graduated and moved on with life, as they should and then I went on my mission. While in my second area I got a wedding announcement from Jared. This may not seem like a big deal, but for me it was something really special. This wasn't an announcement sent to my parents and then forwarded on to me, this was addressed to me, in Spain. IN SPAIN. Not only did he have to pay additional postage to get it to me, but I wasn't on facebook. I didn't post my address on any wedding page or google doc. He had to talk to my parents and get that address. Even sitting here writing about it, I'm crying. It's a silly small thing, that meant and means so much to me. At that point in time I hadn't seen or talked to him for a couple years.
 And now here I am 8 years later (8! how did that happen?) and Jared is still such a great friend to me. With his busy life of work and a family, when I needed a new computer (a year ago) he messaged me and let me know what kind of good deals there were and today when I finally ordered one, he helped me with the ordering, calling me from the airport on his way to London and Beijing, gave me some recommendations and made sure everything was good to go. He's basically the best ever. God is always reminding me that there is good in the world. I just have to REMEMBER and always make sure to look for it. Thanks Jared. And thanks God.