We are the World

I feel like this week has been great! I worked more than I wanted to but I had some serious highlights throughout the week. The biggest highlight was Special Olympics. I had the chance to go with Carly, Kyshel, Raegan & Joey, and Jake and volunteer on Friday. I purposefully took off the morning so I could go. Best decision ever! We got to go and cheer and hang out and dance in the beautiful weather with people who could lift the spirits of anyone around them. I had a overwhelming number of declarations of how beautiful I was and then kind requests if I would be their girlfriend. I had to leave for work eventually and then went back for the dance with them that night, and even though I ended up having a very long day, I felt completely energized & would love to do that again next year. (Pictures to come-Kyshel had the camera).

And just a little thought. I got to be a part of 2 amazing lessons today. Kath gave a great one in my ward and I visited Carly's really quick to hear her lesson. Kath shared a great lil poem/thought thing that her Nana had shared with her when she graduated from high school and I loved it so I'll just post that and be out, but it's just made me think that even though my life is not always in order, I'm doing pretty good because of the things/people/thoughts I surround myself with. So....check....life inventory list today=good!

After A While

Author: Veronica A. Shoffstall

After a while
you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn love doesn't mean leaning and company doesn't always mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't always promises
and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and and your eyes ahead with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers
And you learn that you really can endure, that you really are strong and you really do have worth and you learn and you learn
With every goodbye you learn.

Return to Me

So...much time has passed since my last blog. My favorite posts to read are flashbacks so I'm going to write one. It occurred to me the other day that I have now lived in Provo longer than most places in my life. Kind of a scary thought. However...looking back, I wouldn't change a second of it. Lots of experiences-some good, some bad-but all worth it. As I am trying to figure out exactly how to live out my life's dream and figuring out how to get there, I've had the chance to look back on how great time has been here. (I'm taking the GRE in a month & hopefully going to do architecture so I can do a complete project-design the building, decorate the inside, and design the landscaping as well!) My life is pretty dang great! So here's a little snip-it of my life in the last 5 years...

1.AMAZING Freshman year-came out not expecting anything and starting off new and making some amazing friends, had an amazing roommate

-Highlights: getting mono(insert very sarcastic tone), MANY volleyball games, getting to see Reed off at the MTC with Mom & Joni, climbing trees for the 1st time!

2. Sophomore year: not so hot-almost didn't come back-not the greatest year of my life-lost most of my boys to missions (obviously okay but i didn't like getting left behind)

-Highlights: Sixin'it up, home for Lake of the Ozarks, amazing experience at G. Conference

3. Junior year: spur of the moment decision to come back to Utah-best decision yet! Loved my roommates (Chelsea, Caroline, Whitney) and started to figure out what I wanted to do with my life

-Highlights: The Holiday (every few days with Chelsea), "Parties," Job at the Flower Patch, late night food runs + temple stops, introduction to the NBA (always loved college basketball but thought the NBA were sell-outs with no heart: The Suns changed that for me), summer dinner group (Chelsea, Lindsay, Liz, Whitney), Floral Design with Lara, 1st full summer away from home :(, tonsils removed, D.C. vacation

4. Senior year: Added on a 2nd school interest (landscape design) and wrapping up school with a full load for 4 semester

s in a row-i was very tired but very happy to be done at the end

-Highlights: Time with the E-Z girls, time with Reed, Chelsea's wedding/roadtrip, 1st speeding ticket ever, Journey concert, Summer of Meggie, Reed/Meggie's wedding, graduation (the whole family + Ben) came, St. George with the McArthurs, MEXICO CRUISE!

5. 1 year later: Being the manager at the Flower Patch and taking lots of time to play has left so many highlights but a few would be...VP 9 and my disappearing act from time to time (Cody & Liz being my parents & scolding me for it & Kandis making late night calls), game nights, St. Louis time (not time in STL but time with my boys!),lots of concerts, lots of trips, my MINI, little trips home more often, not V-day, Mothers Day, or Christmas really with work and how it keeps me up to my eyeballs in flowers, visits from Carly & Jenna, Skype, beautiful new computer, building my library, lots of time at Barnes& Noble, Mexi Tues, AZIAN weds, 'merican Thurs,

Casino night, hot springs (death march)

...honestly, those only touch the surface and have no details at all but I am so glad i decided to brave it and come to Utah, despite never having had the desire to be here-I love my life and can't wait to move on to the next part!