Mission Pictures by Whimsy Girl Photography

It's been a long time blog world!! And it'll be even longer because I am going on an mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!! I will be gone for 18 months. I wanted to share my mission pictures with y'all and in my next post (which will be my last one for a while) I want to share with you why I've chosen to serve, why I want to spread the message, and what I hope to accomplish.

A huge shout out to Shannon over at Whimsy Girl Photography for her outstanding pictures.

The Winds Of Change

I feel like all my life has been since coming to school is change, change, and more change!!

As I've been preparing for the "next big thing" in my life as of late, and perhaps the biggest change yet, I've been feeling very reflective on my life, my goals, my hopes and dreams, and my purpose on this Earth.

I have made such outstanding friendships here at school and have realized so many dreams of mine! While I feel like I've gained so much, I've also been knocked down a ton. As I've been considering my next step, I have felt more unprepared than ever before!! Everything I thought I wanted somehow seems trivial and inapplicable. It's as if I'm going through a quarter-life crisis. Is this normal??

However, rather than rant about everything I'm unsure about, I want to tell you what I know.

I know that I have a loving Father in Heaven who always looks after me. He knows me better than anyone else. He knows every feeling of my heart. He knows my hopes and dreams. He knows what makes me tick. He knows what knocks me down. 

I know that I have time. The future will come when it comes. What is happening now in my life is what's most important. I know I have to live more in the now. Que sera, sera. Life is to be enjoyed. So I don't have it all figured out right now, big deal! **Those of you who know me will know this is a big deal for me. I am the planner of all planners and always have to have it all together.** Life will work out. I am young. I have time to figure things out.

I know that I am held accountable for my choices and actions, but that ultimately my life is just that, mine. I am a huge people pleaser and that seems to cause more stress than good. Ultimately, what I do is up to me. I cannot please everyone.

I know that when I serve my fellow men I am serving my Father in Heaven. As I serve those around me I am happy and I know I am doing God's work. As big as my concerns are, they become minuscule when I take a step back and help others. 

I know that everyone I meet is fighting their own hard battle. In fact, this is probably the number one thing I know. Everyone I meet has something that is hard for them, something that is testing them, something that is shaking their confidence. Everyone I know has weaknesses and insecurities. Everyone I know is affected by this life in their own way. I know that I can do better at being understanding.

In just a few short days I'm leaving this beautiful place that I've spent the last 8+ months calling home. I've developed myself here. I've made friendships and built relationships that have enriched my life in innumerable ways. I am beyond thrilled to be heading back home to the place I grew up, I'm thrilled to see my family and old friends, and I'm thrilled to carry on with the next chapter of my life. However, my heart aches for the closing of this chapter of my life. It has been hard, frustrating, rewarding, and extraordinary. As I've been reflecting on all I've learned I am in awe of how blessed I've been. I have fallen flat on my face more times than I can count, but I've jumped up, dusted off, and overcome adversity more times than that. I know that the future is bright and that God is mindful of me. I will always look fondly on my time here and am eager to see what the future holds. Life is beautiful and so full of grand adventures. I am beyond happy to be embarking on a new one. To this lovely little town of mine, I'll see you in two! To all my amazing friends here, "See you when I see you."

I Often Go Walking

I walk a lot.

For those of you much older than me: remember being a college student and having no money. You work your can off at a minimum wage job and really don't have much cash to burn.

For those of you much younger than me: this is gonna be you one day.

First of all, I want to say a couple things.

~I am a penny pincher.

~I am very stingy.

~I am a debt-aphobe (and a word inventer apparently).

~I am careful with my money and am very grateful for my minimum wage job.

THIS POST IS NOT ABOUT MONEY!! I'm just illustrating the setting for y'all.

I have a motor scooter. Not a little put-put mind you. A big Daddy, awesome motor scooter. It is not working, and hasn't been functioning properly since March. I have tried repeatedly to contact the 1 mechanics shop in town and have come to find out that they are not equipped to handle my scooter. So...I walk everywhere. I walk 5 miles every day that I work (2.5 miles each way). I walk to the grocery store. I walk to my friend's apartments. I walk anywhere I need to go! 

My walking time is my happy time. It's a few minutes to myself during this busy thing called life. I don't listen to music, but I do sometimes read. Mostly though, I observe the world around me. 

I watch the cars go by, imagining all the exciting places the drivers must be going. 

I think about the old couple that likely lives in the house with the perfect flower beds and wicker chairs on the front porch. 

I think of the rowdy family that likely lives in the house with the lawn toys strewn on the lawn and the giant family picture I can see through the open window. 

I imagine what new small town story the old man is reading in his news paper while he drinks his morning coffee on the porch steps.

I watch the rabbits hopping from yard to yard.

I listen to the birds chattering in the trees: the cackle of the Raven, the twittering or the Sparrows, the coo of the dove.

I watch the squirrels play a game of tag up a tree trunk.

But my favorite moments of all, are during the last leg of my walk after a long day of work. There's a park near my apartment (about a block away). By this time in the day, my feet are usually protesting (2.5 mile walk + 7-8 hours on my feet + the return 2.5 mile trip), but I can't help but enjoy the scenes that unfold in front of my eyes. I have to take mental pictures and just smile.

Tonight I saw:

A foot ball game.

A Frisbee game.

A new dad pushing his toddler on the swing while mom sat nearby.

A puppy play date (I'm not kidding, 3 puppies of various sizes romping around through the grass).

A newlywed couple playing catch with a baseball.

A game of Quidditch (it was awesome).

A marshmallow gun/silly string tournament.

A couple sitting across from eachother, playing slap jack and smiling ear to ear.

A group of teenagers playing cards at another table.

A couple guys slack lining.

Two teenage boys long boarding.

A group of very pregnant women walking together, talking about baby things (I watching women become moms).

A dapper gentlemen reading a vintage hardback on a park bench.

A group of joggers, dance-running to some awesome song.

A father teaching his son to throw a football to his mom.

And that was just tonight. People bring me joy. The quiet lives of every day folk make me smile. It's the simple things I tell yuh!! I love it. I love seeing happiness and simple pleasures. Life is beautiful. There is so much good in this world. We need only open our eyes and go walking.

Throwback to Summer 2013

So...it's been a while!! It's kind of hard to balance my vlogging and my blogging, but I thought it time to share a post!! In preparation for my upcoming summer vacation, I thought a Summer 2013 Throwback was in order. But first, I wanted to share a mighty fine, cringe-worthy, old man story. This is the story of my "boyfran" (as he is now referred to by ALL of my coworkers, including the big bad boss man).

I work in an old country store just outside of town. We have feed, livestock equipment, apparel, boots, ropes, other tack, hardware, etc. Basically anything you could think of needing for your farm or ranch, we've got. Part of our store is a little deli. We serve sub sandwiches (like subway), wraps, pizzas, biscuits and gravy, tacos, etc. I dare you to name a food category we DON'T serve. ANYWHO, we get a lot of regulars. Some of these regulars are a group of old men who all come in, buy a soda, biscuits and gravy, and then hang out and chew the fat for a little while. One of these men has taken an interest in me.

It started about a month ago when he came in and I smiled at him. He stood there and talked with me for about a half an hour that day. I thought it was nice and I didn't think anything of it. **disclaimer: I have ALWAYS loved chatting with old men. They are insightful, funny, love to tease, and always tell me like it is, which I appreciate. I'm not the type of girl who gets creeped out if they even look at me. That's just not how I roll.** 

The next day he came in again and talked with me some more. Every time I worked after that, I was added to his routine. 

About two and a half weeks ago, he started talking especially about how age doesn't really matter when it comes to true love and how matters of the heart really only concern maturity, not the number of years you've been around. 

Two weeks ago he talked to me about how he's been married twice before because he's never quite found the right woman for him. 

A week and a half ago he said I was a fine woman.

A week ago he said he could make a good life for me.

Four days ago he told me he could leave me millions.

Yesterday, he said he wanted to take me to the balcony and make out.

HOW DO I GET RID OF HIM??? I tried to steer him away yesterday by telling him my boyfriend (who I don't actually have) wouldn't approve. Every time he comes in I hear on my ear piece "Here comes your boyfran Natalie. Better run quick!" Only problem, I am usually the only one running the till. Can't exactly run from the register!! At least there's a counter between us.

Poor guy just needs to find a lady. Should I try to hook him up with someone his own age? I mean age doesn't matter after high school if the person is less than 10 years older than you. This man is 78 years older than me... 

Cue my bitter rant about attracting men far too old for me, not my own age. I'm an old soul. 

Go think on that cringe-worthy story next time you have to go to your minimum wage job and think it sucks. It could always be worse. Even I'm aware this could be worse, but you've got to admit, smitten old men rank pretty high in "Bless your heart" stories.

In other news: 50 days until summer vacation!!!

In honor of the upcoming summer, I decided to flash back to last summer and reminisce about how great summer time is!!!

So much has changed since last summer. 

I grew up and went to college, for one. Also, the awesome family I nannied for and to whom I was a personal assistant MOVED! My siblings have grown up more, especially the older of my two brothers. I've gotten taller! My skin has gotten whiter (time to tan). My hair has gotten darker (time for some natural, sun highlights). I can't wait for all this summer has to offer!!

I'm Vlog Lovin'!!

Today I decided to take the 21 day video challenge. Every day, for 21 days, I will post a video to YouTube. Today I started with a Vlog!! Here's a link. Enjoy!!

That's What Friends Are For

High School was...not my most favorite time of life. Since coming to college, I have not missed it, I have not looked back, and I have not longed for those years again. Any time anyone tells me I'll miss it or that they were the best years of my life, I call them crazy. 

Today, I was hit with a feeling I've never felt before. I never want to go back to high school. I like the progress I'm making and the experiences I'm having. However, I was hit with bittersweet feelings I never anticipated today. I realized that I miss some people. My friends from high school are spread far and wide at different schools, in different states, and on LDS missions in different countries. Every Monday I eagerly anticipate my missionary emails. I love reading about the weeks those faithful missionaries have had. Today I read a line in one of my letters:

"Reminds me for some reason of the time we ended up being a little spontaneous on a date and ended up dancing on top of a mountain, and running through the sprinklers of the capitol building.  Those were good times."

Quite unexpectedly, I felt a lump in my throat and a dull ache down in the part of my heart that hardened against that awkward phase of my life. It served as an excellent reminder to me. Those were comparatively easier times. I had less responsibility, less pressure, and less stress. I had long time friends and I have some great memories.

Times are different now. I wouldn't trade this stage of my life for anything. My reminder was this: Life moves fast. Don't ever wish the time away. I spent a lot of time in high school, wishing for college. Now I'm here, and I'm working to learn to live in appreciation of the moments that make life sweet so that I don't have to look back with a lump in my throat at an excellent experience that I forgot. 

~~~

On the opposite end of this spectrum. I was also blessed today to spend time with the people here at school that are most important to me today. We visited, caught up, and talked about the new semester. We talked about sad things, happy things, hard knocks, and triumphs here at school. As I spoke with each individual that I love so dearly, I felt that same lump as I recognized my tremendous blessings.  God is great and merciful. He never leaves us alone. We will forever rub shoulders with extraordinary people that enrich our lives and fill them with precious moments.

I know my Heavenly Father has blessed me and continues to bless me as I go about my life He always sends people my way that make my life sweet and meaningful. I will always be indebted to Him for that. Too those who mean the world to me both past and present, I love you and am privileged to know y'all.

And now, pictures of some of my sweetest moments with the friends I've made in my life.

 

 

  

Life is too short to go through it alone. Family is most important, but I hope that I can remember that family doesn't have to be blood relation.

Hug your friends today.