It started in Utah. January through April I was going to school at the Y, living in Wyview, dating Alex {until March}, not working, and learning to cook. That was a tough but wonderful semester. Dating Alex was an amazing experience and I am so grateful I had that opportunity. We taught each other so much. I was happy and in love but completely broken when he left. I spent a lot of time figuring out how to be happy again and how to trust the Lord. His leaving truly had me hitting rock bottom. I can honestly say that it was {tied} for first place for the worst time of my life. Somehow though it was also the best part. I wouldn't trade the pain for anything because of the lessons it afforded me. Alex became my winter semester. It was also the semester that I fell in love with geology but everything seems to pale in comparison to what Alex and I created. After April finals and the end of winter semester I went back up to Washington. I spent a month looking for a full-time job while working weekend concession stands in Beaverton and cleaning my kitchen. The smell of lavender and grass will forever mean summer 2012 for me. I have a newfound love of old kitchens now. The last three months of summer were spent working the concession stand and at Bethesda with some of my favorite people in the world. Although it was challenging and emotionally taxing I learned so much from that job. Those individuals with special needs are some of Gods most loved children, I know that without a doubt, and I love them. That summer also meant weekends with Corbin. Man, that was awesome. Springsteen will always be the song of my 2012 summer. Summer was very philosophical and soul-searching. It was my summer to really think out who I wanted to be and what I wanted in life. I found strength in myself that I didn't know I had. All of summer was also time spent with the Littles. Man, I spoiled those kiddos. :) It worked though, because now I'm their favorite! Come fall I went on back down to Provo and was so so excited to start life on my own again. Because I was making all of my own financial decisions for the first time in my life it really felt like I was truly, truly on my own. I got my own apartment, brought my car down, got a job {after a lot of trouble and some wonderfully helpful roommates}, and began my real life. I went on a lot of dates and didn't think I'd actually settle but I completely fell for my best friend and after a little while deciding if I was ready, I jumped in with him. It was one of the best relationships I've ever had in my two and a half years of relationship experience. Man, he was something else. I owe him a lot; especially for showing me what I can have, how I can be treated, how I should be treated. He was a wonderful experience. Fall semester also brought my first failed class. It took a lot for me to accept it and recognize that life wasn't over; as I am such a success-oriented person naturally. All fall I pushed myself to exercise every day and eat healthy; a decision I will never regret. Being healthy and fit is not something I was born or raised with and it was certainly an intense lifestyle change for me. I LOVED it. I tried ballet and fell in love with that as well. I discovered that attitude is really, really everything. My job brought me a ton of joy, a few challenges, and not enough money. Fall was an exciting adventure that ended in heartache. As 2012 ends I really have to admit it was a great year. A year that I learned a ton and suffered a ton.
I spent the last day of the year with all the people I love most. Mom, Stadd, Kaila, Morgan, Grant, Avery, and then Dad, and some Treus. I got 'em all in on my last day of 2012. :)
That's the way to end a year.
And now, on to more adventures.
