Seizing a Lifetime, One Day at a Time

I have a future! I just accepted a job offer today from Clearwater Analytics, the company in Boise that I worked for last summer. It’s great to have that job security and not have to worry about finding a job over the next few months. The only thing I’m really nervous about is moving back up to Boise. I liked it up there, but it’s no Logan. I’m just starting to feel really comfortable back here in Cache Valley and now I already have to consider leaving again! I guess the constant in life is change and I just have to get used to it. So life has been pretty interesting lately. And by interesting, I mean mostly boring. I’m starting to hang out with some old friends again which has been fun, but I have a feeling that the new semester will change that. There’s a lot of thought going through my head that I would love to post about all my social life experiences, but I think for once I’m going to plead the fifth. I’ve decided that my life really isn’t interesting as an open book and I need ...

You know, it’s so much easier to vent than it is to be grateful. Last night I wrote a post that was all a vent and of course the answer to my venting came this morning. I was (of all places) in the shower and D&C 121 came to my mind. It wasn’t any sudden big revelation or any new knowledge that came to me. The only thought that really came to me was “If you’re going through trials, you’re among good company.” Also, I’ve been reminded of some interesting things that happened a year ago that just helped me know that God loves me. Trials happen, and they’ll pass. If I can’t bear my own trials, how will I be able to bear them and help when it’s my children going through them. I guess what I’m saying is that life can be tough. It sucks sometime. But who cares about the crappy times? Sure I can hold them in and let them make me shallow and angry at life. Or I can get over them and help other people going through them. I’m choosing to smile. After all, it’s better than the alternative. ...

Warning: This blog is a vent. I need to get some thoughts out but don't really have anywhere else to put them. I can already tell it's going to be negative but hopefully I'll be able to see the positive once I'm done venting. Here goes... Life is so frustrating!! I'm just really sick of so many things going wrong. I'm trying so hard to be patient and charitable but sometimes I wonder if life just keeps throwing me challenges just to make me break. It's like me and life are playing bloody knuckles and I keep getting hit because I'm afraid to hit life back. I don't want to be negative or rude or anything like that, but sometimes it seems like the trials are going to keep piling up until I finally break and be the negative person I don't want to be! I'm trying so hard to keep a positive attitude, but I can't just keep smiling when everything keeps falling apart. It's unbearable. You might be wondering what could be so bad and I'll ad...

It's been a little while since I last had anything fun to say. Sad to say, it will still be a while until I come up with something "fun" but I figured I should write something on here before I start losing all my dedicated readers. :) Actually, I'm sick (possibly Swine Flu) and have nothing better to do on this beautiful Sunday afternoon where I'm stuck inside and self-quarantined in my own room. I need to apply for EFY... nevermind, the application doesn't open until November 6. I'll have to add that to my calendar. Done. Moving on... Not a lot has happened over the past few months. School has started and is moving along, with or without me. My classes are relatively boring. Either I have a really cool teacher and a boring class or I have a really boring teacher and a boring class. The material just isn't reaching out and grabbing my attention. We'll see if my grades show it at the end of the semester, btu I think they'll turn out okay. I'...

Oh what a summer! How fast it seems to have slipped away, but overall, I really had a blast. Boise was a really good experience. My internship was great and I learned a lot, some of which is helping me in my new job. I also enjoyed a lot of the people I got to know while I was up there. I don’t know that Boise is the place where I’m meant to end up, but it was a good experience and I might be going back on a more permanent basis next year. We’ll see. EFY was amazing! I had so much fun and learned so many great things. My co-counselors were all amazing and I learned so much from each of them. I had some of the most amazing boys ever and learned something from each of them. Of course there were struggles and trials, but I loved it so much. In fact, I’ve decided two things. Next year, I’m going to apply to be a BC and I’ve enrolled in the Seminary Pre-Service program. I’m really considering teaching seminary as a full-time job after I graduate. Of course, it really isn’t my choice, but ...

I didn't write this letter, but I can't put my feelings into words any better. I'm a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you're willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me? Well, these are briefly my ...

I’ve been in Boise almost a month now! The time is flying by. It’s been great and I’ve loved every minute of it. (Except that minute a few nights ago where mosquitoes devoured my feet, but every other minute has been great!) I really am loving it. My internship is great and I’ve been learning a lot. I’m also not sure if programming computers is really for me. I love it and it’s a lot of fun, but it’s really hard to focus on for 8 hours a day. I’d rather be talking to people, interacting with real life beings. Maybe I am supposed to teach. Luckily, I don’t really have to deal with that right now! Besides work, life is good. I just got called to be the Elders Quorum Pianist in church. It’s not a big calling, but it’s something for me to do and I’m loving it. I’ve started making a lot of friends up here. I mostly just hang out with my roommates, but we have people over a lot to play rock band. I also made ice cream on Sunday and it was excellent. (It’s also the first time I had some lef...