Movin' On

First of all, let me just apologize for that last post-- it was very late and had been a long day for me. Hence the total randomness. Not that randomness is a bad thing; I'm pretty sure this post will be a fairly muddled compilation of all my thoughts over the last couple of weeks, so that really isn't much better. Oh well.

I have been living in the same apartment in Provo for the last three years, and two weeks ago I moved. This was difficult for me in many ways, and not just because I don't like change, or that it meant I had to come to grips with the fact that I have a lot of "stuff" (I swear, I could invite half of China over to eat dinner off of my dishes). It was hard because--even though that apartment was small and cramped, and the carpet turned our feet black, and it sounded like we had dancing elephants living upstairs-- I am a different person than the awkward, just-off-her-mission, shell-shocked girl who moved in. (Well, I'm still pretty awkward, but I don't know what to do about that). In that little apartment I experienced some of the greatest growth and learning of my entire life. There I endured the greatest trials, challenges, heartaches, and disappointments I have ever had. But it was also there that I knew some of the happiest moments, met and was impacted by amazing people, grew spiritually and intellectually, learned more about who I am and what I want to be, and formed friendships with people who have impacted my life for good and shaped who I am, and whom I will love forever.

I spent my last day there frantically trying to pack and move out all my things and get the place clean before the designated check-out time. By the end of it all I felt physically beaten down and emotionally drained, and all I wanted to do was leave and put that place behind me. But, as I closed the door and walked away, a sudden rush of memories overwhelmed me and I realized how much the Lord had given me there. I paused and had to thank God for everything Mountainwood #119 has been to me, and even cried a little as I drove away.

So, now I'm in a new place with new roommates, and friends to make, and experiences awaiting me. The unfamiliarity of it all and the loneliness has been challenging, but I am excited for what the future holds because I know that this is where I'm supposed to be. I'm thankful that I get to have these opportunities and that the Lord loves me enough to let me go through difficult times so that I can grow. I know he knows what I need better than I do, and that great things are ahead.

Well, I don't know about you, but I think I've had enough sentimentality for one day. On a lighter note... I really like having my own room!

And I got to go to Sacramento for the wedding of my dear friend, Heather Twistysocks.

The beautiful Sacramento Temple

I took the picture of the chocolate mouse for Trinity...

The fruit tray I did for the reception

Love you guys!!

Can someone just tattoo "SINGLE" across my forehead?

This isn't about me. Let me explain.

After nearly two months of trying to sell my car with no success, I decided tonight to try a new venue and post an ad on Craigslist. I've never used craigslist before, but I know a few people who have bought furniture and other items from the sight, so I thought it was worth a try. After I successfully completed my ad and published it to the site, I found myself back on the homepage. So, like any responsible college student who is really good at finding ways to procrastinate her math homework, I browsed. The list of items for sell was, for the most part, typical; couches, bicycles, cars, musical instruments, etc. But, to my astonishment (and fascination) there was a section devoted to "personals" aka, "women seeking men", "men seeking women", and some other "seeking" topics that I'd rather not discuss. I was shocked that a (somewhat ghetto) classifieds site like that would offer a dating service; my intrigue got the better of me and I clicked on "men seeking women". I was even more amazed when I discovered that people actually post ads on that thing. Everyday! It was like a match.com or eharmony commercial gone seriously wrong. Yes, curiosity did drive me further, and I clicked on a few of them and read their little sales-pitches. But don't worry, thats as far as it went (although I was seriously tempted to reply to one idiot who had the nerve to post that he wanted a clean cut girl with standards or class--apparently you don't have to have both to make the cut-- and that he wanted a picture or you might as well not reply at all. But for some reason the only picture he had posted of himself was actually a picture of...Reese's Pieces??!!! Yeah... I'm not quite sure why he thought that would encourage any girl with standards or class to feverishly log in to her hotmail account and send him the best "full body shot" she could find. And yes, I do think he probably looks like Kip Dynamite).

So, needless to say, it was an interesting and very entertaining ten minutes of my life. I laughed at some, felt truly sorry for others, and mostly thanked heaven that I am not that desperate. And if I ever do get to that point... just don't be jealous because I've been online chatting with dudes all day.

Peace out.