Think Back

Thanks for the tag, Dana! I think it's healthy to pause sometimes to consider where we've been and where we're going. So here goes:

20 years ago:
I was 7 years old. My parents, my two brothers and I lived in my grandma's basement in Bothell, Washington. My parents were both school teachers and our whole family was very involved in the performing arts. I was blessed to have a happy childhood.

10 years ago:
It was kind of a dark time in my life. We had just moved to Orem, Utah at the end of my junior year of high school, and I felt really lost and alone. Like most teenagers, I wondered where my life was headed. Deep down I really wanted what I have now, I just didn't know when or how that was going to happen. However, it wasn't all bad... I do have some great memories of fun times with friends there. But I think the reason I have no issues about getting older is because I remember that my "glory days" of youth weren't all that glorious.

5 years ago:
I was 8 months pregnant with Celeste in Killeen, Texas (yes, that was brutal summer!!) I was so excited about becoming a mother, but I was pretty naive about what I was in for. I had NO IDEA how much it would change my life! I was heavily involved in church there serving as the gospel doctrine teacher and the choir director in that ward. I loved our simple and happy life.

3 years ago:
We had three months off before Jon started work in Ohio, so we bought a motor-home and traveled all over the country, visiting major church and historical sites. It was probably the most amazing experience of my life (other than childbirth). It was also around that time that I really started getting serious about finding a vision for my life. I started making some very specific goals (teach myself piano- 10 hymns, complete 2 scrapbooks, run half-marathon, etc). I developed a personal mission statement, and then worked with my family to develop a family mission statement to get a clear idea about who we are and what we want to do and become in this life. It was probably the best thing we've done as a family.

1 year ago:
We were experiencing a great trial with Jon's work situation. We were all set to move to Virginia, when some unforseen events happened that kept us here. One thing after the next kept happening to get in the way of our move. It was all so frustrating at the time, but it turned out to be such a blessing because the following month I was called as the Young Women's President, a calling that has been a wonderful growing experience for sure.

So far this year:
The sweetest event of course was welcoming our fourth little bundle, Jakey, into our family. He has been such a blessing to us already. We bought a hybrid car so Jon can commute to Indiana every day to pursue his 2nd Masters degree in the fall, and we've built some wonderful memories as a family.

Yesterday:
My dayplanner/wallet was stolen. :(

Today:
I went to the YMCA with the kids in the morning, went to look for my wallet in the lost and found (to no avail), cleaned the house (but it's a mess again), stayed true to my commitment of eating only healthy foods, went for a family bike ride to the park as part of our family home evening, and took care of 4 kids, and a hubby.

Tomorrow:
I'm not sure... I don't know what I'm going to do without my planner!

In the next year:
Well, I'm hoping to read at least 12 classic books (one per month), send our sweet Celeste to kindergarten :(, become a certified aerobics instructor (if I don't get pregnant again), start writing a book, and most importantly be a wife and a mother.

I tag Michele, Sarah, Jill and Jennifer