Birthday!!

I'm old. I turned 26 this year. That's a weird statement to make. Oh well. One of my brother's insists that I'm a menace to society because I'm over 25 and unmarried. I say: who cares?

I had a good birthday overall. My awesome team took me out to lunch at Red Robin:

I had a nice chat with Mom, Dad, and the best sister in law ever! (Love ya, Nicole) and went out to dinner with some of the best friends in the world. But because I'm a slacker... I didn't take any pictures at dinner. The older that I get the more I realize that birthdays aren't as big a deal as you get older. But it's always nice to have an excuse to go out to eat with good company. 

Birthday presents!!

Birthday card from the missionary brother

Holidays

A perk about working with training is that I don't have to work Holidays anymore. That is really cool. No more weekends either. I don't really mind having to work either but it's been kinda nice the last few months not having to do either.

I went to California for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. The little brother got home fro his mission on Thanksgiving day. If you ask my mom, she will tell you it was the best and worst Thanksgiving she has ever had. Let me explain....originally Jimmy was supposed to get into LAX around 10 am. But because of mechanical problems with the plane he didn't get into LAX until after 2 pm and with an hour to go through Customs made for a very long day. By the time we got the message about the change in flight times we were already half way to the airport so it didn't make sense to turn around and go home. By the time we got home, it was after 8 pm. Latest Thanksgiving dinner I've ever had that's for sure.

Christmas was good. Nice and warm 60 degree weather. It was a little weird not having any little kiddos around. Christmas just isn't the same without little ones. It made me miss my niece and nephew a whole lot. I spent a lot of time with my brothers and sister, went through all of the stuff stored at my parents house so thy don't have to move as much next summer, and it was nice to skype with the missionary brother on Christmas day. 

And mom got an iPad... 

It was the last Christmas that I will spend in the place that I did most of my growing up. A little bittersweet. But I'm excited to have my parents a little closer so I won't have to go 6 months between visits. I'm planning on making one more trip to CA before they move for my sister's college graduation in June. 

New Job?

Back in August or September (not sure if I blogged about this or not...) I applied and interviewed for a promotion which I didn't get. Let's just say that I was more than a little heart broken but there was nothing to do about except pick myself back up and move forward. So that's what I did. I spent some time in tears and for a while it was difficult for me to interact with the people that got the job instead of me. One of the things that got me through that time is someone that I consider one of the best friends I've ever had. He's a great guy and is always there when/if I need someone to talk to.

Eventually I came to the understanding and realization that the job I had interviewed for wasn't something I was up to. Yet. Maybe one day but right now is not that day. A few months down the road (in October) another opportunity was presented to me and I understood why the other job opportunity had exactly worked out for me. I didn't have an official interview per-say but I had several conversations with my manager and a few lead supervisors that were making a few decisions/changes on the third week of our training program (Nesting) for the department that I work in. Nesting wasn't being run or wasn't as effective as it needed to be and the powers that be wanted to but someone in charge that could "fix" things. The decision came down to me and another supervisor (one of my good friends).

It came down my director telling my manager that I was the one that needed to be hired for the job because I'm good at "fixing" things. That's kinda cool. So I got a new position and a raise towards the end of last year. It's been awesome and I've loved getting to change things up and make things better for the new hires that come through our training program. At least I hope that I'm making a difference. I love my job and I hope that things keep improving this year.

Blog Hiatus

Wow... Long time with no post. I should try to be better at this whole blogging thing so that my "avid" readers can stay updated on my oh so fascinating life.  Just kidding. But really. I'm going to try and be better this year. I'll try to catch up my life from the last few months in a few posts. Maybe. We'll see.

The last few days have just been plain hard. No one ever likes those days but they happen in everyone's life. I've spent a lot of time in tears because things just haven't been going my way. Sometimes you just need a good cry. At one point I thought, "haven't I cried enough? How do I still have more tears?" But I'm doing better now. Thanks to some amazing people I have in my life. I don't think I could have gotten through the last few days without them.

2 people in particular that I am lucky to call my friends have really been there for me and let me cry and there shoulders. What they've really reminded me of is simply this: sometimes crappy things happen to you but it's what you do with it and how you move on that makes the difference in your life.

Today, in Church I really felt like every message and lesson that I heard was specifically planned and given for me. Funny how things usually work out that way,isn't it? Today in Relief Society this is what I heard: You are loved. No matter what is going on your life there is always someone who knows exactly how you feel. Period. End of Story. That is so true. I needed that huge reminder that our savior knows every feeling of hurt and sorrow that we have ever felt and we will never truly be alone.

I have this friend. His name is Troy and I've known him for over a year now. Over the last 4 months he's become one of the best friends that I have ever had. He's the one that I want to talk to about anything and he's always there for me if I need anything. This week he's really been there for me and listened to me cry on the phone and complain about the difficulties that I'm having in my life. He's so great because he just listens to me and is great at giving words of comfort. Yesterday, he was up at my apartment in Draper after we went to a wedding and he gave me a priesthood blessing. I am extremely grateful for the blessings of the priesthood and that I have some amazing friends who are worthy to hold the priesthood. My life in general would be much different without the priesthood in my life and the last few days would have been much different with out the blessings of it.

I am extremely grateful for the many blessings that I have in my life and the many blessings that are sure to come in my future. Just keep smiling (as a wise friend tells me often) and remember that you are loved.

The Finished Product

And I present my wall of color....

Courtesy of paint chips from Home Depot, tape (and lots of it!) and Pinterest.

Hello, Draper!!

Well, this week has been a crazy one for sure. I'm all moved out of the Provo apartment and into my place in Draper. I just have to pick up my vacuum and drop of my keys. Oh, and finish cleaning. Bleh. Oh well. I like it up here pretty good. I finally got my internet all set up yesterday so I spent pretty much ALL DAY waiting around for the guy to show up. Lame. Here are some pictures of the new place. I'm still working on finishing up my decorating project on the one wall but it's cozy and I like it:

My new bed. Sleeping on it is heaven.

My new bedspread/sheets. So pretty. Thank you, Ikea.

Dresser and Coffee Table. I put them together all on my own.

My 3 windows. So much sun comes through. Love!!

Check out the vaulted ceilings. Still working on the wall. I'll post another pic when it's done. 

Kitchen area. 

Sleeping/Living Area

Fan and Vaulted Ceiling. 

Bathroom

Sink

Medicine Cabinet

Shower

Closet

That's about it. It looks nicer in person than in the pics but I like it. I went to my new ward for the first me today. The people are so nice. I really think I'll like it. And it's in an actual meeting house. Not in a classroom on campus. The perks of growing up. Or something. Slightly awkward moment: Someone I fired a few months ago is in my ward. I thought it was going to be totally awkward but he came up to me after church and said hi. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. But still. I thought I was getting out of that trap by leaving Provo. Oh well. Such is life. Enjoy the pics :)