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. 

Finals

I wasn't feeling the stress of 18 credits until this week. Finals Week. The week everyone talks about and dreads the entire semester.

Maybe, I've been doing this week wrong. Good thing it's only Tuesday so I still have time to do it the right way. So Happy Finals Week, folks! Here's to late nights and never ending headaches. 

Birthday Boy

Today is this lovely boys birthday.

He will be celebrating 609 miles away. Words can't even begin to describe how grateful I am for him and his example. I miss him like crazy and wish I was with him to celebrate his birthday with him, but I know he's where he needs to be.

Have a great day, babe! I love you!!