Top 10 from 2017

Top 10 from 2017:

10. I have met my 2017 goal of stepping outside of my comfort zone to be more social twice a month.  It is still tough, but not as hard as it was earlier this year. 

      9. Dating is still not so fun, but I have gone on four actual dates this year, all with different guys. That’s a record for me! (Yes, I accepted the dates as part of my 2017 goal, but still—I went! Haha) 

      8. Assisting in the delivery of my baby nephew. Read: I sterilized the instruments. BUT that is HUGE progress because I did not pass out on the floor (though I did try and tune out words and sounds).

7. Visiting Houston for the first time since my mission 6 years ago.  Besides still being able to speak Spanish, visit with old friends, and navigate my way around my old areas, the churro guy remembered me! More importantly, the churro truck was still there!! Haha, seriously, they are so good!

6. I found a job…and subsequently quit. But I learned a lot about myself in the process. I’m stronger than I think, and it really helps to not be alone in the fight. It can be really scary to stand up to the bullies.

      5. Great new friends, one of whom being my former supervisor. She reminds me a lot of my sister, and I’ve been telling her that for months. When I met her husband last month, he said, “I can see why you guys get on so well: you’re just like her!” haha.

 

      4. Dancing, especially dancing in airports. If I can share my talents to make servicemen’s visits to DC more memorable and fun, then I am happy to be of service. Dancing in general is such a pleasure for me, and I didn’t realize how many people I impacted with my dancing before I stopped. So many have come up to me over the past few months to tell me that they really miss seeing me dance—it really brightens their day. Especially for one little girl. I never really thought of myself as being noteworthy, I just have fun. But to her, I’m her favorite dancer.

3. Family. I love my family, for better or worse. I had cause to think about forgiveness a fair amount this year in relation to my family, and I have taken steps in my heart to forgive someone that I’ve long held a grudge against. I’ve learned that serving each other is a lot better use of my time and energy, and it’s more fun. 

 

2. I fell in love with an incredible man who could make me laugh, smile, feel, and cry like no one else. I could say so many things about him, and what he still means to me, but that’s for him to know. I miss him a lot, though, every day. I miss talking to him. I want to go on little adventures with him. I pray that one day I’ll have the chance to tell him what he means to me. 

      I also fell in love with his two daughters, too. I didn’t even know it was possible to feel so much so quickly. I could recognize it because it was similar to the strong sense of love I got a few years ago as I spoke and testified at the baptism of a woman I had just met the evening before. I did not know her, but I knew without any doubt that Heavenly Father knew her and loved her. He let me feel some of his love for her as I stood before her—it was amazing to me. It was similar to the love that I felt as I was sitting with the rest of the Relief Society presidency planning VT routes—again, sisters I didn’t know, but I was blessed to feel some of Heavenly Father’s love for them. 

      With these girls, it was similar enough to let me recognize it as love, but it was different because it wasn’t just Heavenly Father’s love for them that I was feeling—it was my own. I still wonder how everyone is doing. 

      1. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me, and is aware of me. I know that even when I'm feeling so lonely, he's right there with me. I have struggled this year in seeing my worth to other people, but I have never doubted my worth to my Heavenly Father. I know I am one of his precious daughters, and that he is proud of what I've accomplished so far, and who I am. I know as I venture out on my own, and explore new places, he is aware of me and sends angels to help make sure I stay safe. As I look back on 2017, and forward to 2018, this is a great thing to know. Y'see, I have many more adventures ahead of me, starting in January.