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.

Happy Mother's Day!!

It's that time of year again. This is the first Mother's Day I've been away from home, not able to be with my Momma. Being that this is the day of moms though, I wanted to dedicate this post to my favorite woman!

From birth she was my greatest friend. 

She loved me, cared for me, showed a love without end.

Even as the family grew

She never loved me less, that's something I knew.

As I grew up and had lessons to learn

She was always there to help my and express her concern.

Life goes by fast and as I've grown

I've realized how badly I want to make it known:

My Momma is...

my hero.

my rock.

my greatest support.

my role model.

my example.

my person.

my number one woman.

the strongest person I know.

the most determined woman out there.

an example of love.

a strong and worthy daughter of God.

wonder woman.

beautiful.

It is a privilege to be her daughter. It is a privilege to have her in my life. She is more than my mother, she is my friend. How I got lucky enough to have her as my best friend, I'll never know. My momma teaches me that I can do whatever I set my mind to. She teaches me in her actions and her example what a good mother is. Her willingness to serve our family and others is a testament to me of her Christlike love and compassion. On this Mother's Day and all others to come, I want her to know how much I love her and appreciate her. She's the best. If you don't know her, you should.

I love you Momma! You're the very best around.

These Past 10.55 Miles

To anyone who gets annoyed by running stories/analogies:

STOP READING THIS POST!

I want you all to read my blog, but if you get annoyed by people talking about running, then I'd stop reading right now. I want to clarify: I'm not boasting, I am likening my life lately to a 10.55 mile run I recently went on.

So, exactly 2 months ago today I was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. When I am confronted by those feelings, I tend to have an all-encompassing feeling that I need to literally run away. So I do! On this particular day I decided to run to my favorite place, the Livestock Center, which is 5.25 miles outside of town. Not only did I decide to run out there, but I decided to run there and back. I spent the next hour prepping (drinking a bunch of water) and then I was off. 

The first two miles of a long run are always very brutal for me. Those miles make me wonder how I could possibly go any further. They usually consist of huffing and puffing and wondering, "Why did I decide to do this to myself?" They are my get-into-the-groove-for-the-rest-of-the-run miles. At the end of those first two miles I had reached the outskirts of town. For the next 3.25 miles to the Livestock Center, I'd be running on the soft shoulder of the road.

The next 3.25 miles were quite pleasant. I was in my groove and enjoying my time out in the crisp country air. The sky was overcast and beautiful, the smells were fresh, the sounds were pleasant. All that is nice, but it wasn't all honky dory. There were certainly little "road blocks" (pun intended). For example, at about mile 3, I was running along, minding my own business, when a ferocious cattle dog ran up and chased my to the edge of his property. It was terrifying and got my heart rate up higher than the running was. At mile 3.7 I was looking up at some hawks floating lazily on the breeze when I started smelling a skunk (which I ignored because after all, "I'm in the country, of course there are skunks out here"). That was a bad decision on my part as, next thing I know, I felt a squish under my foot. I ran over what was once a skunk. At mile 4 I learned the meaning of a country mile. The Livestock Center was in sight, and it felt like years until I got there.

When I got to the Livestock Center (mile 5.25), I started crying. Yeah, I'm a wimp, but I had convinced myself that it was going to be too hard to get there, so when I made it I was ecstatic. I didn't stop though, that was only the half way point, so I turned around and kept running. I cried for a whole mile (I know, what a sight [it really didn't help my steady breathing either]). 

At mile 6.75 I really started feeling the fatigue. The run was feeling hard. I wanted to stop but wasn't sure if I'd be able to start again. It wasn't all bad though. There were plenty of little "power ups." I'm not a gamer, like at all, but I did play some Mario Bros on my Game Boy Advance SP when I was younger. You know the little mushrooms Mario or Luigi would eat and they would make them bigger and stronger for a little bit? That's what I felt like I was coming across. For example, at mile 7 I was running along and I ran by a pasture with a Chesnut horse and a Blue Roan horse in it. As I approached that pasture, they both ran to the fence and ran right with me while I passed the property. At mile 7.75 the road was wet (a rain storm had passed by while I was running) and I was hot. As cars and trucks passed by me, the water sputtering from under their tires would kick up and mist me.

By mile 8.5 I had gotten back into town. I was tired, hungry, thirsty, and ready to be home. At the same time, there was a renewed vigor knowing this was the home stretch. Two miles would be a cinch, right? To my surprise, this was the very hardest part of the run. At every cross walk and stop light, I just wanted to stop running, walk to the next light, call my roommate to pick me up, etc. But this was the time the run was also riding on? Why quit in the home stretch? Turns out, the final two miles were the most rewarding! This stretch came with the most "road blocks" and "power ups." 

When I got home, I cried (again) about my accomplishment. It was the farthest I'd ever run. I was excited. More than that, my head was clear, my heart was happy, I could breath deeper and easier, my confidence had increased, and I had proven to myself that I was capable of something hard.

Now I told you this applied to life.These past 10.55 miles of my life have seemed to be patterned after this run. I've had road blocks in my learning, my relationships, and my attitude. I've had power ups in my family, my friends, my testimony, and my perspective. I've learned that I can do hard things. Because of this run these past semesters, I am better equipped for other hard things to come, but I'm also prepared for the good things that are upcoming in my life! Life is good, people are strong, the gospel gives us hope and redemption. I know this church is true. I know Heavenly Father helps us through every mile we run. I know for every angry farm dog and encounter with roadkill we are blessed with horses and passing cars. Life is meant to be enjoyed not just endured and Heavenly Father is always here to lead and guide us in our endeavors. I know I am on the right track and I can't wait to share my upcoming adventures with all of my loved ones!! 

Keep on truckin' and don't forget what really matters: faith, family, freedom, and friendship.

And to prove you can do anything, here's my man Jon Bon Jovi to remind you.