purpose

Sometimes the monotony of doing the same thing over and over each day leaves me in a bit of a "funk".  A funk where I have zero creative ideas and very little ambition.  I guess that happens when a creative person like me hovers over a computer screen examining one Excel spreadsheet after another, EVERY SINGLE DAY.  These times usually leave me wondering what my purpose is and anticipating something exciting in my life that is days, or even months, away.  I know I shouldn't complain because I really do have a great life.  I have a wonderful job, an amazing husband and all of the things I need right now.  But, I'm also human and there is always seems to be some discontent in life.

I remember Preston and I having a discussion similar to this a while back.  We talked about when we were younger and all we could think about was turning 16 and being able to date & drive.  "Once we can do that, we will be SOOOO happy", we thought. Then, that happened, and we started looking forward to graduating high school and going to college and going on a mission.  We were sure that was when true happiness was achieved.  Same thing with getting married (that did bring true happiness, actually), getting a dog, getting a grownup job, having kids....yada yada yada. 

But the funny thing is, every time one of those monumental times in our lives has come and gone, something else comes up that we start looking forward to, leaving us unsatisfied with our current state once again. 

I, for one, am sick of living my life like this.  So many times I think to myself, "man, when I am done working and get to be a stay-at-home Mom, I won't ever want anything else. Nothing could make me happier than that!" But, from experience, I know that there is always going to be "something else" I am going to want or do.

So I am going to do my best to stop having this type of attitude.  I feel like when I am constantly counting down the days until that "one big day we have been looking forward to for so long" finally gets here, we will have wasted so much time in the meantime.  We just have to be willing to find the excitement in the little things and not get discouraged when every day isn't a birthday or Christmas or a day off from work.  So here's to committing that even though it is just an ordinary Wednesday in January, it can still be awesome and I am going to make it the best dang Wednesday I have had yet (even if it is a workday) ! :)

"The trick is to enjoy life. Don't wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead." -Marjorie Pay Hinckley

some words about blogging.

Lately I have had this monkey on my back telling me to blog.  But there is one little problem with that, scratch that - a BIG problem - I feel like there is nothing going on in my life worth blogging about. Sure, I usually do something fun and out of the oridinary on Saturdays & Sundays but as for the other five days of the week, not so much.  It's hard to come up with things to talk about when I am confined to a cubicle forty hours a week.

But then it occurred to me.  Why put off blogging until I am a "stay at home Mom with cute kids to blog about" person? Is my life not important enough now to keep a history of? That answer is obvious - of course it is! But it's not always easy to remember. 

Most bloggers in the "blogosphere" are cute, young Moms with cute, little kiddos. Most of the time their blogs are devoted to documenting everything about their cute kids. And I am by no means saying that is a bad thing.  Let's be honest, those are the ones I read on a daily basis and can't wait to be like someday.

But then I realized, I have a great life now! And ten to twenty years from now I want to look back and remember how great our life was when it was just the two of us (and little Millie, of course).  So I am recommitting to myself (and to anyone else out there that ever stubbles upon my blog) to be better at documenting the story of our life.  Not just a "this is what we did over the weekend" post either but rather a journal that we can look back on and remember the day-to-day, good and bad times.  Because they happen every day, not just on the weekends. :)

And since I feel like a post is never complete without pictures, here is what life has been like for us according to my iPhone:

little sister visits :)

Every couple months Preston and I have the chance for my little sister, Emily, to come and stay with us for a couple of days. 

She likes adventure and experiencing new things so we really try to get our creative juices going when we know she is coming to town. This time around was easy. As much as she has visited us, she's never hiked the Y. So that is what we did.

Emily, Millie and I spent the morning hiking the side of Y mountain. Luckily, it's just a short hike but it was a little steeper than I think Emily was anticipating. She finished though and was so proud of herself! 

The main event of her visit was by definitely the Haunted House we went to. I'm so sad we don't have pictures to document it.

I'm not big into them and neither is Preston, but it is totally worth it to see Emily's reactions. We got a good ab workout from how much Emily always makes us laugh.

The rest of her visit was pretty low key. We did some shopping, ate some delicious pizza at CPK, indulged in frozen yogurt (always on the agenda when Emily comes) and visited with dear friends of ours that touch Emily's life more than they will probably ever know. 

Thanks for visiting, Em! We love you! 

A piece of me.

Lately I have really been thinking about my life and why I am the way I am.  A lot of who I am today comes from having Emily as my little sister for the past 18 years of my life. I remember being very young when I first realized that my only little sister was not going to "be like everybody else". I hesitate to even use the phrase "be like everybody else" because I think what the world defines as "normal" and "acceptable" is distorted and wrong, but at a young age that was the phrase that came to my mind. I must have been only about seven or eight years old when I realized Emily had a disability. I remember being worried if she and I would ever be able to do things together like most sisters do. Would we hang out when we were teenagers? Do each others hair? Go shopping and help each other pick out clothes? Would we talk for hours on end late into the night? So many things went through my mind and I remember at that moment in my life being so worried what life would be like with her as my little sister.

But for those of you that know Emily and I, know that she and I have spent a lot of time together over the years. Thinking that we wouldn't be able to do sisterly things together was the silliest thing I ever could have imagined! We talk every single day, without fail. And if we happen to miss a day, which happens from time to time, you would think that her world would have ended. Isn't it hard to have her demanding so much of your time? What is she going to do once you get married? People have asked me those questions a few times and to be completely honest, no. Sometimes I'm busier than other times and can't talk for as long as she would like to but besides family, Emily doesn't have friends that call her and talk to her throughout the day. So when people question if it is hard for me to do each day, I can't help but feel my heart breaking for them. If we are only focusing on ourselves, we are missing out on doing so much good in the lives of others. For me, it's easy. Emily enjoys talking to me and I in turn enjoy talking to her and learn so much from her. She reminds me to find joy in simplicity. She teaches me to set goals and try hard to achieve the unimaginable. She encourages me to be outgoing with her confident, energetic and happy lifestyle. (If only I could be brave enough to bust a move in front of so many strangers at Five Guys or yell that loud at a BYU football game. haha) She has blessed my life in more ways than I can even begin to count.

And as for "what is she going to do once you get married?", that was a big adjustment for all of us. It definitely took some trial and error and adjusting. But lucky for me, I have THE BEST husband around. We just spent UEA weekend with Emily and he literally hung out with her more than I did. Every night while I was at work, they were playing - shopping, volleyball, cooking, you name it! He is honestly the best, hands down. I love him more than anything in this whole wide world!

Yes, at times having a sister like I do can be hard. But more often than not, it is so easy. She reminds me to be sensitive to the needs of others and not to judge others harshly. Emily has influenced so much of who I have become. One of my biggest desires is to have Emily bless other people's lives like she has blessed mine and my families. I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with Emily as my sister.