People

Thinking about all the people I've had in my life blows my mind. Some have simply made quick appearances while others have become lasting, essential pieces to my life. Recently, I've learned it doesn't matter how attached you get to someone it doesn't stop them from leaving, no matter how strong you thought your bond was.

I often have this mindset that:

But then I read this:

"Not everything is supposed to become something beautiful and long-lasting. Sometimes people come into your life to show you what is right and what is wrong, to show you who you can be, to teach you to love yourself, to make you feel better for a little while, or to just be someone to walk with at night and spill your life to. Not everyone is going to stay forever, and we still have to keep on going and thank them for what they've given us." 

When I take a step back and look at the people who have come and gone I realize how true this statement is. It sucks having people leave, but without those people I wouldn't be who I am. As hard as it is, I'm (slowly) learning not everything lasts forever and the importance of enjoying things while they last. 

The FUTURE

The unknown. It seems as though we go through life looking forward to the next milestone: graduation, college, marriage, kids, etc. It's kind of scary once you reach one of these milestones, because you've spent so many years imagining what life will be like once you reach it and now that it's here you can't help but wonder, "what's next?"

I've been thinking about the future a lot lately. I used to have my entire life planned out, but life has a way of changing things; things that were once priorities aren't even a factor anymore. For someone who likes to be in control, it's a terrifying thing. As per usual, One Tree Hill saves the day by saying,"You're way too young not to believe it's gonna be okay."

I realize I am only 19 and have so much life ahead of me. Sometimes it's easy to find yourself dwelling on what lies ahead. As much control as we think we have of our futures, it can change in an instant. Although I'm not sure what the future holds I'm sure it'll all work out. After all, I'm too young not to believe it's gonna be okay.

To: Graduating Seniors

Graduation. It's here. I can't believe its been a year since I graduated. I've learned a lot during my short time in the "real world." For the last 12 years you've been working towards this day and now that it's finally here you don't know what to do about it. You can't help but wonder, what's next? School has been a constant in your life up until this point. If it hasn't hit you yet that you won't be attending public school in the Fall, it will; when you watch everyone going back to school and going school shopping, that's when it will hit you.

High School, school in general, is familiar territory. It's something you're used to and something you rely on. Don't get me wrong, college is exciting and the unknown is thrilling, but the unknown is also terrifying. I saw this the other day referring to graduation and I couldn't agree more:

You may not realize it now, but you will miss High School. I think about High School often and already wish I could go back, because the truth is High School is easier, more constant than the "real world." 

Change is something I've never liked so graduating High School was hard for me, because graduation=change. Graduating High School comes with a list of changes: people moving away to college, it's the beginning of hard decisons, and if you live around here it means people are leaving on missions. These changes are something I am still dealing with and it doesn't get easier, but it's life. 

Enjoy graduation. Take TONS of pictures!! You'll only graduate High School once, so take it all in. All the stuff that follows graduation will be different, but it's nothing you can't handle. Welcome to the "real world." 

The Luck of the Draw

As I was walking down the halls of UVZOO the other day I heard someone say, "We all do the best we can with the hand we're dealt."

This cliche has always made me think. Sure, all of us have our own separate trials and things we deal with, but can we change the hand we've been dealt? Obviously, we can choose how we play our hand and how we react to the hand we've been dealt, but is there anyway to change our hand altogether?

Lately I've been feeling like I need life to deal me a new hand because I'm sick of playing with mine.

Sister MEGAN Francis

I've been having to deal with this quite a bit lately…. friends leaving to go on missions. No matter how many times I've had to do it, it doesn't seem to get any easier.

This lovely leaves on her mission tomorrow! She is going to Little Rock, Arkansas. The funny thing is, she will be serving with another one of our good pals. Megan and I have had some great times and I am going to miss her like crazy. However, I am so proud of her and I know she will be a fantastic missionary.

Thanks for always being there for me, babe. Words can't even begin to describe how much I appreciate you. I love you and I'll see you in 18 months.

No Wonder Peter Pan Didn't Want to Grow-Up

I've always been pretty, "grown-up." I was constantly told I was 10 going on 30, and it was something I took pride in. I was more intrigued with grown up conversations than playing house with the kids. I often put myself in adult roles that I thought I needed to fill.

Everyone is so eager to grow-up; to graduate high school, go to college, get married, and start a family. As we grow-up we look at "grown-ups" lives and they look so glamorous and we long for the day we can join the "adult club." But the truth is,

Sure, adulthood = independence, but that independence = responsibility. The thing about responsibility is, it doesn't go away. In fact, responsibility seems to increase with age. Just as we wished we could grow-up faster to gain that independence; we now wish we could rewind the clock and be a kid for just one more day, when your biggest worry was who you were going to play with at recess. 

I mean really, when did I grow-up and become an adult? And how do I make it stop? 

Today

I feel like this….

Seth Cohen, just gets me. 

Change

I've always hated change, dreaded it in fact. Maybe, it's because I've had so many life altering changes in my life that I just long for some stability. The problem is, no matter how hard I try I can't stop change from coming. 

Meredith Grey says, "Change, we don't like it, we fear it, but we can't stop it from coming. We either adapt to change or we get left behind. And it hurts to grow, anybody who tells you it doesn't is lying. But here's the truth: the more things change, the more they stay the same. And sometimes change is good. Oh, sometimes change is … everything."

When I think about change, it scares me, the fear of the unknown terrifies me. I think the most terrifying thing about change is the fact that somethings will never be the same again. Some relationships can never be repaired and no matter how hard you try, they won't go back to the way they were.  

However, some of the greatest things in my life have come from change. New adventures, friends, and relationships. Change is what shapes us, shapes our lives. As scary as it is, it's necessary. Change is one of the only constants we have.